PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles received a flyby from military aircraft at about 7 a.m. today as part of a two-day regional training exercise in anticipation of the 2010 Olympic Games.
The scenario is that a twin-engine aircraft unintentionally strays into restricted airspace.
It will be intercepted by a Canadian fighter jet and escorted to William R. Fairchild International Airport, according to the plan.
The twin-engine plane was expected to land between 7:15 a.m. and 8 a.m. today, airport director Jeff Robb said on Wednesday, but the aircraft was heard flying in from the east at 6:58 a.m.
The purpose of the exercise is to coordinate U.S. and Canadian military efforts to prepare for the Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, and to hone the interception and identification operations of the North American Aerospace Defense Command — or NORAD.
Army National Guard C-23 Sherpas, Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets and U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles are taking part in planned exercises from Moses Lake to Aberdeen.
Western Air Defense Sector McChord Air Force Base scrambled Air Force Fighters from the 142nd Fighter Wing at Portland Air National Guard Base on Wednesday to intercept C-23 Sherpas.
An anticipated landing at Port Angeles on Wednesday was scratched because the exercise was delayed.
“They started the exercise, and they stopped the exercise,” Robb said.
Robb said he had no more information.
People living along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and in the Puget Sound region may see Canadian military aircraft flying in U.S. airspace today, according to NORAD.
“These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure NORAD’s rapid response capability,” said a prepared statement released by the agency’s Continental United States Region.
“NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.”
Since the terrorist attacks nearly eight years ago, NORAD fighters have responded to more than 2,100 possible air threats in the U.S., and have flown more than 52,000 sorties.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
