With exactly six months to go before the 2010 Winter Olympics kick off on Feb. 12, residents of B.C.'s South Coast or the border regions of Washington state should not be alarmed if they see fighter jets roaring overhead this week.

The aircraft are taking part in Norad's air security exercises this week.

Few details have been released about the flight plans, but officials have said Canadian and U.S. military planes —part of the North American Aerospace Defence Command — will be used to put a security umbrella over the Games, possibly including an escort for planes flying in and out of local airports.

Other security restrictions during the Games will force some regional airlines to alter routes so passengers go through airports with adequate screening equipment.