How would the Air Force stop an airplane violating the no-fly zone over the Super Bowl?

I was honored to be selected to give a briefing last week to the media at March Air Reserve Base in California.

The USAF news release:

_____________________________________________________________ Media invited to Super Bowl air defense media day

For members of the media to learn how NORAD protects the homeland

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – Members of the news media are invited to attend the Super Bowl air defense media day, Wednesday, February 9, 2022. This event will provide the opportunity to hear and speak with agency partners from the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, FAA, and Civil Air Patrol highlighting how they partner with North America Aerospace Defense Command’s continental U.S. region in protecting America’s skies.

Media day highlights NORAD’s 24/7, 365-day mission of protecting our nation’s skies prior to Super Bowl LVI. 144th Fighter Wing F-15C aircraft, 144th FW Detachment 1 F-16 aircraft, 452nd Air Mobility Wing KC-135 Stratotanker, Customs and Border Protection Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, and Civil Air Patrol C-182 aircraft will be on display during the media day.

This event will showcase NORAD’s role with agency partners to protect America’s skies and secure the airspace over SoFi stadium on Super Bowl Sunday. The 144th Fighter Wing is just one of multiple military units nationwide capable of responding to potential Super Bowl LVI air threats. During the day’s activities, media will have an opportunity to learn more about NORAD’s Operation Noble Eagle mission which began after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Its continuing mission is protect the skies from terrorist air attacks from inside or outside North America. Media will have the opportunity to hear from subject matter experts from NORAD, the FBI, the FAA, CBP, and Civil Air Patrol. Wednesday, February 9th at 8:30 a.m. (media day will be from 9-10:30 a.m.) 363 Graeber St, March Air Reserve Base, CA 92518

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Media interested in attending must confirm attendance by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, and will need to provide contact information including full name, telephone number and email to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Office. Confirmed media will meet at March Air Reserve Base Visitor Control Center, March Air Force Base February 9, at 8:30 a.m. for escort to the event. Please have valid driver’s license, press credentials, along with vehicle registration and insurance.

CONR - 1 AF/AFNORTH Continental United States NORAD Region – First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) Office of Public Affairs 1210 Beacon Beach Road * Tyndall AFB FL 32403-5549 * www.1af.acc.af.mil * twitter@1staf Facebook@FirstAirForce * Facebook@America’s AOC

CAP supports the Super Bowl!

My story about the Civil Air Patrol's support of the Super Bowl is in the newest issue of CAP's Volunteer magazine.

I briefed the media in Duluth, Minnesota on how F-16s would intercept a target of interest like our Civil Air Patrol airplane that violates the no-fly zone around the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. The CBP, FAA and Air Force also briefed.

The next day, two F-16s intercepted a CAP airplane while the media watched from inside a KC-135 tanker. 

I'm very proud to have been CAP’s PIO for this demonstration of what would happen if an airplane violated the no-fly zone around the Super Bowl stadium.

Helping with the Air Force's pre Super Bowl LII interception demo

I briefed the media in Duluth before Super Bowl LII.

Every year the Air Force shows the media what would happen if an unauthorized aircraft violates restricted airspace around the Super Bowl. 

I was the Civil Air Patrol's public information officer for the Air Force's media day, held Jan. 30 at Duluth Air National Guard Base, Minnesota. CAP’s Minnesota Wing provided an airplane for a static display inside the hangar. It was positioned between a Black Hawk helicopter and an F-16. I briefed the attending reporters, and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection pilot, an F-16 pilot, and a Federal Aviation Administration official also briefed.

At the media event held Feb. 1, CAP had the smallest airplane taking part in a demonstration of F-16s flying alongside the CAP plane posing as a rogue aircraft, making radio contact, and guiding it out of restricted airspace around Super Bowl LII. The media watched one of the F-16s refuel during the mission from inside a KC-130 tanker. An NBC-TV was a passenger in the F-16D at the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing 

Since the terroristic attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the FAA routinely implements no-fly zones, called Temporary Flight Restrictions, around major events to ensure no general aviation airplanes enter for a specified radius. Air Force fighter aircraft enforce the TFRs during the time of the event.

CAP is involved in similar exercises around the U.S. throughout the year to test airspace security. The air defense exercises are carried out as part of Operation Noble Eagle, coordinated by the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command. The exercises are conducted in coordination with the FAA and other interagency organizations as appropriate.  

WDIO-TV coverage

Duluth News Tribune coverage

  

Super Bowl XLVIII

I was flown to NJ for an Air Force assigned mission as public information officer for ABC-TV and the Star-Ledger newspaper to go on a CAP media flight to watch two F-16s show how they'll intercept any aircraft that violate the no-fly zone around the Super Bowl. FAA and DHS/Customs also participated. The NJWG Asst. PAO, Lt Mike Gross, provided crucial support. Anyone who watched "Good Morning America" on Jan. 29 saw the 177th Fighter Wing/Jersey Devils "head butt" a CAP C-206.

The fighter pilots in the photo around me showed great hospitality.