Shaw F-16s intercept unidentified helicopter near Charleston Published Jan. 6, 2011 By NORAD Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Two 20th Fighter Wing F-16 fighter jets, under the control of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, intercepted an unidentified civilian helicopter entering North American airspace in the vicinity of Charleston, S.C., at approximately 11 a.m., Jan. 6. The helicopter was not in communication with air traffic control. The Shaw Air Force Base pilots intercepted the helicopter and, using hand signals, directed the pilot to establish communication. The fighter jets returned to their base once the pilot established communication with local air traffic control. Since Sept. 11, 2001, and the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, 20th FW pilots have stood alert to guard America's skies against intruders. NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that provides maritime warning, aerospace warning and aerospace defense for Canada and the United States. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall AFB, Fla. The command is poised both tactically and strategically in our nation's capital to provide a multilayered defense to detect, deter and prevent potential threats flying over the airspace of the United States and Canada..