Military Intercepts of Aircraft Decrease

[livvy]

Military Intercepts of Aircraft Decrease

By Jim Michaels - USA Today
Posted : Friday Jan 2, 2009 14:30:28 EST

WASHINGTON — The number of times military fighters have been ordered to intercept planes straying into restricted airspace has declined by about 50 percent during the past two years.

Officials attribute the decline to tighter coordination among federal agencies and a growing awareness of flight restrictions among private and commercial pilots since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Federal Aviation Administration and law enforcement agencies are getting better at identifying planes by checking records and flight plans before scrambling a fighter to get a closer look, said Air Force Col. John Zentner, operations officer for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Through mid-December, military fighter jets were dispatched 123times in 2008 to intercept commercial or private planes that violated airspace restrictions, according to NORAD. That’s down from 245 times in 2006.

Despite the decrease, civilian aircraft continue to regularly stray into restricted airspace, sometimes prompting fighter planes to intercept them.

more...


http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/01/airforce_flight_intercepts_010209w/%2e

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Interceptions were 100% decreased on 9-11. Weird, huh?

Then apparently went back to normal, per story above, but not needed as much.
Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm.