Operation Skyshield will have its 50th anniversary tomorrow on September 10, 2010. Only the World Trade Center attacks has resulted in the entire North American continent being shut down to all aircraft since the tests that were run by the U.S. and Canadian governments in Operation Skyshield. In an attempt to test the effectiveness of air defense systems, all aircraft were first grounded on September 10, 1960. The governments did this as merely a test and those results have never been shared. The operation was one of the largest air drills in aviation history and has not been done but three other times in the 60’s. Today’s air traffic is much more exponential than it was in the 60’s which would cause much more difficulties as a result. No other drills have been conducted in modern times.
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