F-15 Fighter Jets from the 104th Fighter Wing in Westfield MA are scheduled to participate in an Alert exercise on Jun 20, 2013.  The practice scramble maneuvers are anticipated from approximately 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  These events will include closely coordinated intercept tactics, with civil operated aircraft over many regions of Northern Mass, New Hampshire and Maine.

F-15 fighter jets will be conducting training with the Civil Air Patrol, which will be flying a low-speed civilian propeller aircraft (GA-8).  This exercise, in partnership with the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS), and is conducted to facilitate training for alert pilots on  intercept procedures, ensuring the Massachusetts Air National Guard is prepared to defend the Northeast airspace against any airborne threat.

These exercises are carefully planned, closely controlled and include exercising airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responding to unknown aircraft.  Communities in following locations may experience increased military aircraft activity during  the duration of this exercise:

Manchester, NH
Concord, NH
Portsmouth, NH
Portland, ME
Kennebunk, ME
Kennebunkport, ME
Dover, NH
Rochester, NH
Sanford, ME
Newmarket, NH
Epping, NH
Raymond, NH
S Berwick, ME
Exeter, NH
York, ME
N Berwick, ME
Biddeford, ME
Springvale, ME
East Barrington, NH
Northwood Center, NH
Mohegan Island, ME

Safety is paramount during these practice scrambles and the communities involved should be notified that these events are practice events and there is no need for increased concern.  The members of the 104th Fighter Wing along with the other Air National Guard alert sites around the U.S. are constantly prepared to engage and mitigate any airborne threat.  Protecting the homeland is our focus and we are proud to defend America.