ALPENA — The Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) verified in a statement on Facebook around 2 p.m. on Tuesday that the loud booms heard in and around Alpena were in fact sonic booms.

“Your local Airmen are training to stay mission-ready,” the CRTC posted on Facebook, then thanked the community for their support and understanding.

“Military training flights over northern Michigan sometimes require supersonic speeds, leading to occasional sonic booms,” the CRTC post stated. “These occur in designated high-altitude airspace to ensure safety while preparing our pilots for real-world missions.”

The post noted that Alpena CRTC and its Military Operations Area (MOA) provide essential airspace for military pilots to train effectively, and that residents should not worry when they hear the booms, because they are part of essential military training.

In an email to The News shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the CRTC explained that the center and the MOA “play a crucial role in military training, including supersonic operations. A MOA is a block of airspace where aircraft can perform military training activities, (aircraft intercepts, turning and evasive maneuvers and air combat maneuvers) separated from other flight traffic. The airspace utilized in Michigan is essential for training aircrews effectively and ensuring their readiness, and the performance of the aircraft, are able to respond to national defense needs.”

The email further explained that supersonic flight is only authorized in the high-altitude airspace referred to as “ATC-Assigned Airspace” (ATCAAs).

This assigned airspace is above the MOAS, which only extend up to 18,000 feet vertically, the email noted.

“ATCAAs make up the largest portion of airspace in the Alpena Airspace Complex, and it is where aircraft such as the F-16 spend most of their time while training in Michigan,” the CRTC email said. “The sonic booms we do experience in Michigan occur during certain training events where supersonic flight is required to achieve specific training objectives. Our customers are very good at only exceeding the sound barrier in authorized locations, but we can expect sonic booms to be a regular occurrence in northern Michigan.”

Even though the flights occur above an altitude of 30,000 feet, area residents may still hear the sonic booms, which can be startling, but the CRTC stated, “we want to assure you that military aerial operations in our area are conducted with the utmost consideration for our neighbors.”

The email added that safety comes first for the pilot and aircraft, and that the public is usually alerted prior to the sonic booms.

“Usually, this training is planned in advance and alerts can be provided to the community prior to any sonic boom happening,” the CRTC said in the email. “However, on occasion the intensity of training causes the boom to happen unexpectedly. Also, sonic booms on occasion cause minor damage.”

If you feel a sonic boom has caused damage to your property or if you would like to report a low-flying aircraft, you may contact the Alpena CRTC servicing Public Affairs Office at 586-239-5576 ext. 7. Please share with the PA team details such as the date, time of the incident, and extent of damage if any was caused.