The Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing is scheduled to conduct nighttime training flights Monday through Thursday (Oct. 16-19), weather permitting. Area residents may see or hear F-16 fighter jets, including the use of flares, taking off and landing until about 10 p.m.
An air defense exercise is also scheduled tonight between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Those living in and around the Bad Axe, Mich. areas may hear and/or see fighter jets in close proximity to a Civil Air Patrol aircraft, which will be taking on the role of a Track of Interest (TOI). A TOI is an aircraft that has been identified as a potential threat.
The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate response and coordination procedures.
Although scheduled for the evening, the exercise flights could be relocated, delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather.
Training flights normally take place during daylight hours, but F-16 pilots and maintenance personnel are required to conduct night operations as part of their overall readiness training.
