The Ellis County Press: CONR to fly air defense exercise in preparation for Super Bowl XLV

CONR to fly air defense exercise in preparation for Super Bowl XLV
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STAFF REPORT on 02/04/2011 14:20:00


TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Continental U.S. North American Aerospace
Defense Command Region fighters will be busy well before Super Bowl Sunday
preparing to protect the skies around Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
Exercise Amalgam Virgo 11-05A, a NORAD air defense exercise, will be held
Wednesday, Feb. 2, in the greater Arlington area to allow interagency partners
the chance to practice procedures in response to airspace violations.
Parts of Ellis and Southern Dallas County can expect flights to begin around 9
p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 2 and continue for an hour and a half.
The Amalgam Virgo exercise comprises a series of training flights held in
coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, Customs and Border
Protection, Civil Air Patrol and CONR’s Western Air Defense Sector.
“Interagency coordination is a key aspect of our daily air defense
measures,” said Maj. Gen. Garry Dean, CONR commander.
“This Amalgam Virgo exercise is an excellent opportunity for all of our
interagency air defenders to hone our air defense skills in preparation for
Super Bowl Sunday.”