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The task of Air Policing is one of the main peace-time/non-wartime activities of today's Air Forces.

Reasons
With the September 11 attacks it became obvious that even during peacetime, threats from the air must be reckoned with. Also, in peacetime, there are provocations by military aircraft. Because of this it is the task of Air Policing to enforce its sovereignty, requiring compliance in enforcing flight traffic laws and providing help to aircraft in trouble. These tasks cannot be solved by radar-based air traffic control alone. It also needs suitable aircraft.

Mostly jet fighters (for e.g. MiG-29s) are used due to their large range of services at all altitudes and speeds, its comprehensive sensors (radar, IR, Data Link) and versatile armament. For slow and low-flying aircraft (gliders, balloons, helicopters) normally turboprop aircraft (for EC Pilatus PC-7) and helicopters (e.g. Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma) are used.

Contrary to popular perception, air policing is one of the most complex and challenging tasks of the Air Force. Unknown aircraft must be identified within a short time and in all weather conditions with no margin of error and intercepted if necessary. Air policing is performed daily and is always a real commitment and not sidelined to things happening in parallel (such as air combat exercises). Air policing ensures the control and sovereignty of the national airspace and security in air transport. Thus, the Air Force not only carries out the tasks of an independent state but also acts for the benefit of civil aviation.

Types of Air Policing Missions
There are two classes of mission, "Live Mission" (inspection and observation) and "Hot Mission" (intervention).


 * Live Missions
 * In Live Missions, aircraft will either be intercepted by the Air Force or visually inspected; it is checked for compliance with the timetable specified information (type, registration, operator) and whether abnormal characteristics are apparent.
 * By government-owned aircraft (or civil aircraft with a state mission), the aircraft is checked for compliance with Diplomatic Clearance.
 * Aircraft may be followed and observed to see if the pilot complies with air traffic rules (sink rate, speed, type, weather conditions, etc. as appropriate).


 * Hot Missions
 * Help for civilian aircraft, for example problems with navigation and radio
 * "Visible" (escort) to make a plane with a faulty transponder visible for civil Air traffic control
 * Finding from flares with forwarding to emergency organizations (e.g. Rega (air rescue))
 * Identification of airspace violations as ingress or schedule disruptions are not allowed
 * Intervention to monitor safety where visual flight rules (VFR) aircraft enters airways or the arrival and departure corridors of airports
 * Enforcing the use of airspace restrictions (e.g. WEF, G8)
 * Monitoring airspace in hijacking events
 * Management of crisis situations (e.g. approximation of enemy/terrorist aircraft at the border)

National differences
Switzerland controls diplomatic clearance flights and occasional civilian flights. Germany makes controls on military aircraft only, and no controls on government aircraft. Thailand makes no Live Missions only Hot Missions.

Some nations are too small to carry out this task in their airspace. For instance, Liechtenstein's air policing is undertaken by the Swiss Air Force. Other nations have not the equipment and/or the money for this task. These often have an agreement with another nation or belong to an organization such as NATO) or are in Baltic Air Policing or Icelandic Air Policing.

Numbers
The increase in air traffic and the threat of terrorist attacks from the air mean that Air Policing is essential for safety in aviation. Numbers of missions in Switzerland, with its small airspace, are tabled.