Government agencies will test ability to enforce 10-mile zone around the Superdome
An hour-long training exercise for procedures that would be followed if an aircraft were to enter the no-fly zone that will be in effect around the Superdome during the Super Bowl is scheduled to begin at 7am.
U.S. Navy Captain James Hineline, spokesman for the air defense exercise, says its purpose is to test the readiness of all the agencies involved in enforcing the no-fly zone.
"Just to make sure we got everything down and there won't be any surprises when the Super Bowl actually happens," Hineline said.
Several aircraft will be involved in the training exercise, so residents may see and hear more planes in the air during that time.
Hineline says if an aircraft enters the no-fly zone during the Super Bowl, "the very first thing we're gonna do is try to get a hold of them, contact them, first via radio; and if we don't have a lot of luck with radio then there's multiple aircraft that can be used to try to get ahold of them."
Hineline says the goal is to contact the stray plane's occupants, find out why they're in the no-fly zone and escort them out.
