IMS Press Release 7 June 2001

Initial Exercise Press Release Exercise Clean Hunter 2001 NATO Life Flying Exercise CLEAN HUNTER 2001, the annual live-flying NATO exercise, will take place in Allied Command Europe's Northern Region and Northern France, during the timeframe 18-29 June 2001, with live-flying during the periods 18-22 and 25-29 June 2001. The exercise will be conducted by Headquarters Allied Air Forces North through its Combined Air Operations Centres. CN-01 will involve air forces from Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. France joins the exercise as part of the normal training relations that have been established with its Allies. CLEAN HUNTER 2001 is designed to promote training opportunities for all participating units to maximise interaction between opposing forces and to exercise Headquarters Allied Air Forces North and its subordinate Combined Air Operations Centres in the planning and conduct of major co-ordinated live air operations. The exercise will involve many different types of aircraft for a wide range of operations. It plays a vital role in the maintenance of the professionalism of allied air forces. It runs concurrently with, and is linked to, other land and sea exercises, allowing joint planning and operations to be practised. There will be no exercise flying during the weekends. However waivers to allow low-level flying (down to 500 feet above ground level) have been submitted by all nations. Operations will take place during daytime. Headquarters have made every effort to avoid the concentration of aircraft noise in individual locations by using large exercise areas. In general, CLEAN HUNTER 2001 will not create much more additional flying to that of a normal flying day, with the participating nations using their normal training sorties for the exercise. Notes for the media: Questions should be addressed to: HQ AIRNORTH Public Information Office tel 49-(0)6371-40-2060 or 2065 and fax 49-(0)6371-40-1093 and e-mail: airnorth.pio@gmx.de.