Najeeb (Jeeb) Halaby, FAA Administrator, Sept. 26, 1961: explaining Operation Sky Shield II, the grounding of all U.S. and Canadian commercial airlines, general aviation, charter and cargo flights on Oct. 14 to 15, 1961, to conduct a Norad and Strategic Air Command simulation of a Soviet bomber attack during the height of the Cold War. Halaby addressed these remarks to 600 NBAA members during the 1961 NBAA Convention in Tulsa, Okla.
“I have been looking forward to this meeting to deliver a message, to speak through you to the aviation community. And my message is neither pleasant nor popular. It may make you a little uncomfortable. Perhaps it should. Gentlemen, despite what our past experience may have been there is a necessity now for all of us in the aviation industry to act in preparation for possible disaster, to move forward with plans to survive any nuclear attack that may be thrust upon us.
