Norad, its primary function is defensive and external (ie: detection of ICBM attacks on the USA for example). It’s also designed to and constantly does monitor all air space over north america.
I’ve just taken a look at the norad website and they claim that they have only had that responsibility since sept 11 201 ” Cheyenne Mountain added another mission to its historic legacy in the defense of North America. The terrorist attacks against the United States marked the beginning of Operation Noble Eagle. Operation Noble Eagle is a homeland defense mission incorporating NORAD’s mission of Aerospace Warning and Control to include the monitoring of the interior airspace of Canada and the United States. Today, NORAD and CMD stand ready to assist the Federal Aviation Administration and Navigation Canada in responding to any threatening or hostile domestic aircraft.”
I am petty sure however that the scanning of internal north american space was controlled by norad prior to sept 11 2001 and the FAA were a part of that process (it may be that Norad is singularly now responsible). I’ve jsut looked it up and FAA is part of the process prior to sept 11 “NORAD’s role in that case is to issue “scramble orders” for interception of the errant flight by jet fighters from U.S. Air Force Bases (“AFBs”). Interception of an errant flight allows for visual reconnaissance of the situation and a graduated menu of possible further actions (these might include attempts at radio contact, looking into the cockpit of the errant aircraft, visual signals such as tipping wings, attempts to force a landing, etc.).”
On the day in question NORAD was running exercises where attacking buildings with planes was one of the scenarios. those exercises it is claimed clogged nORADS ability to respond. Norad normally scambles within 10 minutes (nearest base was Mcguire AFB NJ), on sept 11 it took 80 minutes (I believe) to get it all happening. I have read a disgruntled report from one of the intercept pilots and that in itself is enough to make me think that something deliberate occured to delay them.
As for FU’s comments above their is nothing to comment on. A very unhelpful commentary.
Norad constantly sends intercepts within US airspace so your clearly misinformed about that. Intercepts happens consistently and constantly, normally they are not serious (ie trainee pilot takes a wrong turn etc).