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News > Air Force fighters prep for Super Bowl XLV
 
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F-15s Over the Super Bowl
F-15 Eagles patrol areas around critical infrastructure and during special events. Fighter aircraft such as this one conducted air patrols around Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., in support of Super Bowl XLIII. (U.S. Air Force photo/Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery)
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 AF will be on the field, on the stage, and airborne during Super Bowl XLV - 2/3/2011
 AF will be on the field, on the stage, and airborne during Super Bowl XLV - 2/3/2011
Air Force fighters prep for Super Bowl XLV

Posted 2/3/2011 Email story   Print story

    


by Capt. Jared Scott
601st Air Operations Center Public Affairs


2/3/2011 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters will be busy well before Super Bowl Sunday preparing to protect the sky around Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Exercise Amalgam Virgo 11-05A, a NORAD air defense exercise, was held Feb. 2 in the greater Arlington area to allow interagency partners the chance to practice airspace violation procedures.

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, the 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."

These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure CONR's rapid response capability. CONR officials have conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command's response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"When it comes to defending America's skies, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region and America's Air Operation Center are always ready," General Dean said.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, CONR fighters have responded to more than 3,400 possible air threats in the U.S. and have flown more than 58,200 sorties with the support of Airborne-Warning and Control-System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.



tabComments
2/4/2011 11:21:50 PM ET
Well the C models need to do something productive for the nation since they are essentially useless in our current conflicts. I also like the use of a Kadena F-15. Last of the Last
Herkdrvr, Low and Slow
 
2/4/2011 5:16:03 PM ET
Well if an enemy aircraft got over the stadium then that fight is already lost... A fighter is flexible in the fact that it can intercept an aircraft BEFORE it got to the stadium to deliver the potential payload. Where as a CIWS or any stationary system would only be able to intercept it IVO the stadium unless you were to place multiple ones a few miles away every time there is a superbowl...which is counter productive to your arguement.
Damien Papson, Beale AFB
 
2/4/2011 7:23:10 AM ET
If you put CIWS in the parking lot of a crowded football system it will cause unescessary panic/anxiety amongst the public. Especially HAWK missile batteries. Fighter jets could divert an aircraft violating the airspace and if need be shoot it down. A CIWS would just spray thousands of rounds of 20mm into the air. Those rounds have to come back down somewhere.
Ashton, Virginia
 
2/3/2011 6:34:27 PM ET
Waste of money flying CAP over Texas Stadium for the Super Bowl. Better off placing CIWS (close-in weapon system) ring near the stadium. Or I-HAWK batteries. Do you think the fighters will actually shoot an aircraft down over Dallas? Just as bad as the TSA patting people down at the airport.
Mike, Rattlesnake Pt FL
 
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