Signs of the G8 Summit are in the air — literally — this week.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its Canadian equivalent, Canadian NORAD Region, are running G8 and G20 Summit training exercises with fighter jets and helicopters in and around central and southern Ontario.
That means Muskoka residents could hear more planes than they’re used to.
“Residents in the exercise area may hear aircraft noise and perhaps see aircraft flying at various times throughout the day,” according to a NORAD press release.
The exercise started yesterday and ends today, May 7.
“This is preparatory work for the G8 and G20 summits,” said Integrated Security Unit spokesperson Sgt. Pierre Chamberland. The ISU is made up of Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Canadian Forces and more, and is in charge of summit security.
Canadian Forces are going to be responsible for protecting the air space around Huntsville, he added.
Residents can expect more and more of these sort of exercises now that the G8 is less than 50 days away, said Parry Sound-Muskoka member of Parliament Tony Clement.
“Things are stepping up week by week and now day by day,” he said. “That includes security, but it’s also the development of the actual planning for the actual conference itself.”
Keep an eye out for CF-18 Hornet fighter jets and different types of helicopters, which are the planes being used in the practice exercise.
Further details, such as how low the planes will fly, weren’t being released to maintain the integrity of its air defense mission, said NORAD.