Air Force F-15 Eagles patrol Super Bowl XLV

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)

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.