There will be buzzing overhead for Torontonians and Muskoka residents on Thursday and Friday as NORAD conducts flight exercises in preparation of the upcoming G8 and G20 summits.

Fighter jets and helicopters will be flying at low altitudes over Toronto and Huntsville as the North American Aerospace Defense Command trains for the upcoming summits.

NORAD isn’t releasing details of the flight exercises — such as flight times, routes or affected neighbourhoods — but residents are warned that if they live in the exercise areas, they may “hear aircraft noise and perhaps see aircraft flying at various times throughout the day.”

“Our role, specifically for the air force, is to maintain airspace security,” said Capt. Holly Brown, public affairs officer with 1 Canadian Air Division. “During the summit, that’s what we’ll be doing and that’s what we’re doing (over the next two days) in preparation.”

“This isn’t your typical training activity because the focus is on security,” she added. “Given the nature of this operation, we just can’t divulge tactical details.”

The exercises will involve Canadian Forces CF-18 Hornet fighter jets, CH-124 Sea Kings and CH-146 Griffon helicopters. According to the Canadian Forces website, the CF-18s are world-class fighter jets that can “engage both ground and aerial targets,” with twin engines that can lift 24-full-sized pick-up trucks off the ground. They were used during the Gulf War’s Desert Shield and Desert Storm campaigns, as well as during the recent Vancouver Olympics.

Sea Kings are maritime helicopters with the ability to land on water. Griffons are tactical helicopters that can travel up to 260 kilometres per hour.

Brown said the flight tests will occur throughout the day but should be over by the time the work day ends.

“This won’t affect anyone overnight,” she said. “No one’s going to lose sleep overnight.”

Porter Airlines also says the NORAD exercises will not interfere with its regular flights from Toronto’s Island airport over the next two days.

There may be more NORAD flight exercises in the upcoming weeks but Brown said the public will be notified in advance.

The G8 summit is taking place June 25-26 in Huntsville, and the G20 will be held June 26-27 at Toronto’s Metro Convention Centre.