A military exercise will bring Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft into Iqaluit on Friday.
The air defence exercise, conducted by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), will involve CF-18 fighter jets and a CC-150T Polaris air-to-air refueler.
Wikimedia Commons/Royal Canadian Air Force photo
The flights are planned for areas outside the city at high altitudes, but there will also be increased flight activity at the Iqaluit Airport, according to a Canadian Armed Forces news release issued Thursday.
"This exercise is in no way related to the Government of Canada or United States’ response to Covid-19," the news release states. "NORAD routinely conducts exercises with a variety of scenarios including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responses to unknown aircraft. This air defence exercise provides us the opportunity to hone our skills as we operate in the Arctic."
Personnel involved in the exercise will take preventative measures to limit potential to spread the coronavirus by engaging in regular hand sanitation, practising physical distancing and wearing face masks in situations where physical distancing is not possible. Aircrews will remain with their aircraft while at the airport for refueling prior to departing Iqaluit, according to the military.
No military personnel from the exercise will remain in Iqaluit afterwards.