Two CF-18 Hornets will be seen and heard flying over Ottawa’s south end on Wednesday. The Royal Canadian Air Force will be participating in an RCMP-led live-fly exercise over Ottawa. The Canadian Armed Forces says two CF-18 Hornets from 3 Wing Bagotville “may be seen or heard operating at lower altitudes alongside a civilian aircraft” over the Ottawa International Airport. “Live-fly exercises by RCAF aircraft are carefully planned and closely controlled in accordance with standard safety procedures to ensure public safety and are dependent upon weather and flying conditions,” the Canadian Armed Forces said in a media release. “Routine exercises support training and coordination with domestic partners to maintain the RCAF’s operational readiness and ability to respond.” Ottawa Airport exercise The RCMP will be conducting an emergency exercise today in partnership with the Ottawa International Airport and its emergency response partners. The exercise will take place between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on airport property, according to the airport. “This annual exercise is conducted in accordance with Canadian Aviation Security Regulations and is designed to test and strengthen coordinated emergency response capabilities across multiple agencies,” the Ottawa Airport said in a statement. Officials say passengers and the public may notice an increased presence of emergency vehicles and uniformed officers in the area, but there should be no impact on flight operations. “This exercise supports ongoing efforts to enhance preparedness, effectively communicate, and maintain public confidence in emergency response systems,” the airport said. “It also provides an opportunity to evaluate inter-agency coordination and communication and identify areas for continuous improvement.”
