Tucson Forward

AIR COMBAT COMMAND REFUSES PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE UPCOMING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF OPERATION SNOWBIRD

In a letter dated May 9, 2012, the Air Combat Command (ACC) announced that they will release the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Operation Snowbird in early June. Although they announced in April that they would be changing the operations and the baseline for the EA proposal that was presented to the public at the scoping meetings. The ACC will not be giving the public the opportunity to ask questions of Air Force personnel face-to-face. The public will have no idea of the proposed operations or baseline changes until the draft document is released. The original proposal included expanded OSB operations which included adding the controversial F-22.

Are Air Shows Appropriate for Densely-Populated Urban Areas Like Tucson?

Some think that having jet aircraft doing loopty-loops over the University of Arizona with its 50,000+ day-time population may be unsafe and just asking for trouble. During Davis-Monthan’s recent practice for their Air Show/Open House, this time it was just a sonic boom and a lots of broken glass caused by a hot-rod pilot on Friday, April 13th. Tucson Forward questions the safety of this type of activity in an urban area. See Tucson Forward’s letter to the Secretary of the Air Force.

Tucson Forward and the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest Submit a Comment on the F-35 Draft EIS for Air Guard Station Tucson

Please see attached letter commenting on the Draft EIS for the Beddown of the F-35 at Tucson International Airport.

TUCSON FORWARD TO VISIT THE MAYOR & COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH AT 5:00 P.M. SEE LETTER TO MAYOR ROTHSCHILD

Come to the Tucson Mayor and Council meeting on Wednesday, February 15th at 5:00 p.m. Let the them know that the F-35 is not appropriate for Tucson. The Draft EIS says that the F-35 at TIA will cause harm to thousands of new low-income and minority residents who live near TIA. Read the attached letter to Mayor Rothschild. It is time for them to take a stand and ask for a flyover. See letter to Mayor Rothschild and Fact Sheet

WHAT IS THIS F-35 DRAFT EIS ALL ABOUT?

Not just you, but everyone is wondering what this draft F-35 EIS is all about. Plowing through thousands of pages isn’t easy. Attached is a summary of some of the important points. It is still a work in progress, but this is a must read. The question is…Is there no way out? Do all four locations; Holloman, Boise, TIA, and Luke have to be turned down to get away from the F-35 shadow at TIA in the future?

Public Hearing Dates for the F-35 DRAFT EIS

All hearings include an open house information session from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by a presentation and formal public comment session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Representatives from the Air Force will be available during the open house session to provide information and to answer questions related to the Draft EIS Date: Feb. 22, 2012 Location: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Tucson Airport North Ballroom 4550 S. Palo Verde Road Tucson, AZ 85714 Date: Feb. 23, 2012 Location: Tucson Jewish Community Center Auditorium 3800 E. River Road Tucson, AZ 85718

DRAFT EIS FOR THE F-35 AT TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS RELEASED

Many who had submitted comments on the beddown of the F-35 at Tucson International Airport received an Executive Summary of the Draft EIS in the mail today. There is a glossy brochure of the Executive Summary and a CD of the full document.

THE F-35 IS DELAYED, BUT DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE..THE TIA DRAFT EIS IS COMING UP IN FEBRUARY

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) took the Senate floor on Dec. 15 and described the F-35 fighter program as “a mess.”

TUCSON FORWARD’S THIRD OPERATION SNOWBIRD ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMENT IS SUBMITTED

Attached is a third comment letter submitted to Gulf South Research regarding the Environmental Assessment presently being done for Operation Snowbird (OSB). It was mailed on November 14th and is 7 pages long. The first letter, sent 10/13, was on the Baseline and Alternative Airfield Locations. The second letter, mailed 10/22, was on Environmental Justice. The idea is that the letters will establish a clear record and will be held for future use. The draft EA is expected to be finished in February (??) and will be submitted again for public comment shortly after. TF Note: One question that has come up concerning the OSB Training Plan 60-1 which is being used by the Air Combat Command as the proposed action… Is this really a NEW proposed action since there was an OSB Plan 60-1 released on June 1, 2007. Why wasn’t an EA done for the 2007 OSB Plan 60-1?

PIMA COUNTY PASSES RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF BRINGING A “DRONE-DRIVER” SQUADRON TO DAVIS-MONTHAN

By the time you read this, the Pima County Board of Supervisors will have likely passed a resolution in support of bringing the MQ-9 Remote Split Operations (RSO) unit to Davis-Monthan. This Resolution will go to high-level Air Force personnel in order to encourage them to send this unit to Tucson rather than to Hawaii or South Carolina. Tucson Forward will not be taking a position on bringing the “Drone-Driver” unit to D-M. Some feel that this type squadron is just the ticket for an urban military facility and others question the ethics of killing using unmanned aircraft. The letter from Chuck Huckelberry and the Resolution follows. There are some addresses at the end where you can write letters, if you wish. There are a few important issues noted below.

DEADLINE FOR OPERATION SNOWBIRD ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMENTS EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 15TH & TF COMMENT SUBMITTED

TUCSON FORWARD, A LEGAL ENTITY, SUBMITS A COMMENT TO GULF SOUTH REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. READ MORE. ALSO SEE THE OPERATION SNOWBIRD PAGE FOR HOW YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT.

D-M MAY GET A SQUADRON FOR REMOTE GUIDANCE OF DRONES

At first glance, this type of expansion of Davis-Monthan personnel without increased air traffic over urban Tucson appears to be what many in the Tucson community and Tucson Forward would like to see. We hope that Washington and D-M are finally listening. There still needs to be a restoration of trust on the part of many in the community, but this may be a good first step. FAA doesn’t allow drones to fly in air space used by piloted aircraft. Shaw AFB, S. C. and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii are the other candidates for assignment of this squadron.

THIRD OPERATION SNOWBIRD INPUT MEETING TO BE HELD ON 10/19

A third Operation Snowbird Environmental Assessment Scoping meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 19th, starting at 5:30 P.M., Randolph Golf Course Copper Room, 600 S. Alvernon Way. This is an “Open House” format where you can come and go. There will be Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force contractors there. Read more for questions you might ask and how to make a comment.

WAY TO GO, TUCSON FORWARD! YOU ARE FANTASTIC.

We estimate that there were at least 150 who attended the Operation Snowbird EA input meeting on Tuesday evening at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel. There were approximately 10 citizens plus +/- 20 Air Force, Air National Guard, and their contractors who attended the meeting last night in Vail. This clearly identifies the location of the problem as central Tucson. By the way, this is the area that wasn’t invited to the JLUS table back in 2003. There is the possibility that there will be a third input meeting although many of the participants have gone home.

SHOULD A LAME-DUCK MAYOR SPEAK FOR THE CITY OF TUCSON ON THE EXPANSION OF DAVIS-MONTHAN’S OPERATION SNOWBIRD?

Comments will be solicited from local Government officials. The question is..should a lame-duck Mayor be providing a comment on this issue without a vote of the City Council? The elections will be only 13 days after the deadline for comment submission. Our present Mayor Walkup will not be a candidate.

EXPANSION OF OPERATION SNOWBIRD PROPOSED

Environmental Assessment “Scoping” Meetings to be held: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 5:30 PM-8:30 PM Sheraton Four Points 1900 E. Speedway (Near Campbell) Wednesday, September 28, 2011 5:30 PM-8:00 PM Empire High School 101701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, Tucson

ARTICLE ON OPERATION SNOWBIRD CAUSES A FLURRY OF LETTERS

On June 30, 2011 Dave Devine of the Tucson Weekly wrote an article about Operation Snowbird entitled “Noise vs. Jobs”. Operation Snowbird, an Air National Guard program that operates out of Davis-Monthan AFB expanded over the years to include F-18s, Harriers, F-15s, and Tornados, all without benefit of an Environmental Assessment of what the impact would be on the citizens of urban Tucson. (The long- overdue Environmental Assessment public meetings will be held at the end of September.) Dave Devine’s article started a series of letters to The Tucson Weekly’s “Mailbag”.

TUCSON FORWARD FAQ OPERATION SNOWBIRD

Over the next months we will be providing information about both the changes to Operation Snowbird, the Air National Guard program that operates out of Davis-Monthan AFB (D-M), and about the possible beddown of the F-35 at Tucson International Airport (TIA). Recall that the TIA 162nd Guard aircraft at times use the D-M flight path thus impacting both areas. This was disclosed in the F-35 EIS brochure at the scoping meetings back in March of 2010. The educational material will be provided by a variety of Tucson Forward contributors. A FAQ about Tucson Forward and Operation Snowbird follows:

THE PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE NEW OPERATION SNOWBIRD PROGRAM TO FINALLY BE HELD

The Staff Judge Advocate of the Air Force Air Combat Command announced in a letter that the much over-due public scoping meetings for the Operation Snowbird Environmental Analysis would be held prior to September 30th. This still does not tell us the exact date, time and place of the meetings or even what this supposed NEW program is all about. Read the letters.

Reactions to “Noise vs. Jobs”

“• Operation Snowbird… Is the Air Force renting our city to foreigners so they don’t need to have the pollution and noise of these jets over their cities. Jets of this type burn about 2,000 pounds of fuel per hour. We breathe that exhaust so the Dutch, etc., don’t have to. The Air Force gets the money; we get the noise, risk (they are practicing, after all) and dirt.”

How Good a Neighbor Will the Air Force Be?

If harm is done to the Tucson community by the F-35 or Operation Snowbird, will the Air Force stand up and be responsible? They have contaminated the ground and the water near Tucson International Airport (TIA) creating one of the largest Superfund sites in the country. The story of how an Air Force contractor dumped solvents into the ground near Air Force Plant 44 follows. How it will be handled by the Air Force is yet to be determined.

Noise vs. Jobs

“Critics say that the presence of a few F-35 Lightning II aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base might negatively impact the community. On the other hand, military supporters hope to attract more defense-related jobs to Tucson.” By Dave Devine TF Comment: Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO) is carefully making the link between Davis-Monthan and Raytheon and then marching it on down the military corridor… but are they going in the wrong direction with upcoming Pentagon budget cuts?

FUNNY HOW THOSE EISs SEEM TO ALWAYS JUSTIFY THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES

TF Note: Please note that both Miramar MCAS and Yuma MCAS have been “customers” of the ANG Operation Snowbird at Davis-Monthan. Be sure to check out the F-35B EIS for both Miramar and Yuma. The F-35B will be replacing the F/A 18s at Miramar and the Harriers at Yuma MCASs

How the F-35 Comes in the Back Door of Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson

Davis-Monthan’s Operation Snowbird “Customers” Lemoore NAS, Miramar MCAS , and Yuma MCAS are All Getting Ready for the F-35

Is Davis-Monthan’s Economic Impact Analysis Overblown?

Letter from TUCSON FORWARD to City of Tucson Mayor Walkup. Link to the Davis-Monthan Economic Impact Analysis and a community critque follows. Dear Mayor Walkup, You were recently briefed on subject Economic Impact Analysis for DM. Tucson Forward is very concerned about the inaccuracies in the report as outlined below. Over-selling has been a terrible problem with our City Government over the last few years and has fostered an atmosphere of widespread community distrust. It would be very helpful as you (and we) wrestle with difficult problems that our City Government point out the pros and cons as factually as possible along with your recommended solutions. Posting a biased analysis to the City website sharpens divisiveness and distrust on a very difficult issue. This is not to say that DM doesn’t contribute significantly, both economically and humanly, to the Tucson Community. Perhaps the UA can provide a more factual analysis. Respectfully yours, TUCSON FORWARD

Puzzling Communiqué About the Upcoming Operation Snowbird EA

(Recall that as much of the present aircraft brought in by the ANG Operation Snowbird program ages, they will be replaced by the F-35.) TF Note: For those of you who are not members of the Military-Community Relations Committee (MCRC) we thought we would pass …

Another Crash of An F-18

TF Note: F-18s from Lemoore NAS have been participants in Operation Snowbird (OSB) training at D-M. An F-18 from Lemoore crashed on Wednesday killing two. It was an F-18 from Miramar MCAS, another OSB participant, that crashed into a house in San Diego in December of 2008 killing four on the ground. Many Tucson residents contend that the aircraft brought in under the OSB program are louder and less safe that the mission A-10s and C-130s. No Environmental Impact Analysis was done of the much changed Operation Snowbird program which leads some to believe that the OSB program is operating in violation of NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act).

IS TUCSON A MILITARY TOWN OR A SCIENCE CITY?

“Science City” – that’s how Tucson should be known and branded, says UA Dean of Science Joaquin Ruiz.

Tucson Forward to Temporarily Change Focus

TF Note: Over the next couple of months, Tucson Forward will be changing their focus. As the date for the scoping meetings for the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Operation Snowbird (OSB) approaches, we will be changing our focus from the F-35 Environmental Inpact Statement (EIS) …

Government Waste or is $218,371 Just Small Potatoes?

By a Tucson Forward Member After years of letter-writing to Washington and thousands of citizen signatures asking for an independent study of the ANG Operation Snowbird program at Davis-Monthan, on May 7, 2009 the Air Force Washington office of Legislative Liaison wrote a letter stating: …

The F-35: A Weapon That Costs More Than Australia

Washington intends to buy 2,443 (F-35s), at a price tag of $382 billion. Add in the $650 billion that the Government Accountability Office estimates is needed to operate and maintain the aircraft, and the total cost reaches a staggering $1 trillion. In other words, we’re spending more on this plane than Australia’s entire GDP ($924 billion).

Warplanes on display above city this week

“Does Davis-Monthan really want to be a good neighbor to the Tucson community?” asks the website of Tucson Forward, a grass-roots group. The question was asked in an online entry critical of such air-show practice runs.

More Planes!

Calling the expansion of the program “unsupervised,” Gomez thinks Operation Snowbird is perhaps being conducted outside of federal environmental laws. “We’ve raised that issue (with the Air Force),” he says.

How the F-35 Comes in the Back Door at D-M

It is imperative that you read “A Citizen’s Guide to NEPA” to be familiar with the process and to know your rights before the Operation Snowbird EA scoping meetings in March. It is clearly written and easy reading.

AZ bioscience industry added jobs

Just a reminder of our mission. It isn’t all about “NO F-35s”. Read our mission statement. We are a grassroots group that aims to protect Tucson and its neighborhoods from health damaging noise and safety concerns related to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. We aim to foster economic, scientific and technological development of Tucson in a way that supports and promotes a good quality of life for all its citizens. See article from the 2/3/11 Arizona Daily Star.

Does Davis-Monthan Diminish Noise Complaints?

Attached is a letter from the Air Force’s Office of Legislative Liaison to Congresswoman Giffords (We at Tucson Forward all wish her a speedy recovery.) regarding a citizen noise complaint to Davis-Monthan AFB (D-M). The letter states that D-M “is extremely sensitive to noise complaints, but….Tucson Forward has not found this to be the case.

DOES DAVIS-MONTHAN REALLY WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO THE TUCSON COMMUNITY?

See the D-M press release about pilots flying over densely-populated areas of Tucson to be certified for an air show. This isn’t national security. Try calling the telephone number they give for registering public concern.

DRAFT F-35 EIS FOR TIA DELAYED BY 3-6 MONTHS

“There have been some delays in the analysis, and we are anticipating a 3-6 month slip in the schedule, so a Draft will probably not be available for public review until late Spring or early Summer of 2011.”

McKeon Submits Local Defense Priorities to House Armed Services and House Appropriations Committees

http://www.mckeon.house.gov/singlepage.aspx?NewsID=1471 U.S. Air Force B-2 Stealth Bomber Advanced Tactical Data Link – $14.6M The Advanced Tactical Data Link (ATDL) on the B-2 would profoundly alter how these stealth aircraft like the B-2, F-35, and F-22 communicate with each other in a high threat environment by …

Wyle Study on City Council Study Session Agenda

City Council Meeting TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21ST, 5:30 P.M. City Council Chamber, 255 West Alameda St. PLEASE COME! WEAR YOUR “NO F-35″ BUTTONS

Is There a Problem with the Culture at D-M?

Over the last two months there have been two fatal accidents involving D-M airmen, one involving a motorcycle and the other involving a car, and a suicide. Now we hear that some D-M airmen are smoking Spice, a Marijuana-mimicking substance, while inspecting A-10s and bombs at the base warehouse. Is there a problem with the culture at D-M that might impact the safety of Tucson citizens as their aircraft fly over large heavily-populated areas of the City?

Let’s Connect the F-35 Dots to Davis-Monthan

What we are sure about is that Operation Snowbird, the Air National Guard program that operates out of Davis-Monthan, will likely have their “customers”, sister service and allied foreign pilots, who will bring their brand new F-35s to fly over Tucson as part of the OSB program.

SHOULD CITY TAXPAYER FUNDS BE SPENT ON THE MILITARY COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE?

If you would like to send an E-mail to City or County Officials, Military Community Relations Committee (MCRC) members, or base personnel about the role of the City in the MCRC at a time of layoffs and furlougs of police and fire personnel, here are some E-mail addresses. Is the City doing a job that should fall to the Chamber of Commerce, TREO or the D-M 50? Also, how is the public being treated by a supposidly open and transparent process, the MCRC? Is the City and the County doing their jobs to protect their citizens and urban Tucson? You can also send a letter to the Editor of the Arizona Daily Star letters@azstarnet.com Keep reading for the E-mail addresses.

October Snowbirds Loud, F-35 Louder Yet

Key info to keep in mind. Tom Bevers has done some sound calculations for us. The Snowbird Harriers (AV-8B) that were brought in over Tucson in October were about 4 times louder (18 db) than the A-10 and twice (9.5 db) as loud as the …

War-Toy Wishes

Newsweek by John Barry November 13, 2010 As Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Ga., plant prepares to begin building the 187th—and last—F-22 super-fighter, the military is already dreaming of its successor. In a query to the aerospace industry earlier this month, the Air Force laid out its …

HARRIER PILOTS TO TRAIN HERE

It is due to eventually be replaced by a version of the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with similar capabilities.

Software Fix En Route to Grounded F-35s

by Graham Warwick, Aviation Week 10/1/10 Flight testing of the F-35 is expected to resume early next week after being suspended since early this week after a problem with the software controlling the fuel boost pumps was discovered in the lab. Modified software is to …

MILITARY AVIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT: WHY THE MILITARY SHOULD CARE

Ian Shields | Exclusively written for sustainablesecurity.org | September 2010 Aviation has come a long way in the century or so since the Wright brothers first flew, and there can be no doubt that it has brought some great benefits: bringing people closer together, allowing …

Environmental Analysis of the ANG Operation Snowbird Program to be Done

Will this analysis include the F-35? It was announced at the 9/15/2010 Military Community Relations Committee (MCRC) meeting that Gulf South Research Corporation of Baton Rouge, La. signed a contract on September 9, 2010 with the Army Corps of Engineers to do an Environmental Analysis …

U.S., BOEING SUED OVER MIRAMAR JET CRASH

F-18s similar to the one involved in the fatal San Diego crash which killed four on the ground have been part of Davis-Monthan’s Operation Snowbird program

Marine Base’s Critics Win Vote in Okinawa

TOKYO—Critics of a siting plan for a U.S. Marine facility won a majority in city council elections in the town where the base is supposed to be located, in the latest sign of staunch local political opposition to the base.

DRAFT WYLE STUDY OF OPERATION SNOWBIRD DISAPPEARS

Where is the draft Wyle Study that we have been awaiting for almost a year? Why did the Air Force think that “a more exhaustive assessment of Operation Snowbird activity” was needed? Why did Wyle Engineering think that it was needed? What was their reasoning? What are the other findings on safety and noise in the draft? Is the F-35 included in this “more exhaustive assessment of Operation Snowbird activity”? Taxpayer funds went into the Wyle contract, the public deserves a copy of the draft Wyle study. Send an E-mail to Scott Hines and ask for a copy of the Draft Wyle Study. Scott.Hines@dm.af.mil

OSD Squeezes JSF Costs Harder

By Colin Clark Wednesday, September 8th, 2010, DoD Buzz OSD Downplays Kendall Comments, Says His Figures Were “Hypothetical” Frank Kendall, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, told an international defense conference today that the Pentagon is “on the path” to buy …

UPDATE ON THE TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

FOR AN UPDATE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) FOR THE STATIONING OF THE F-35A AT TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT GO TO www.F-35ATrainingEIS.com A postcard was recently sent by David Martin, the Air Force contract employee, to those who submitted comments on the EIS. Mr. Martin …

THE REAL ORIGINS OF THE WYLE STUDY

This is a letter to a Tucson Forward member about how the Wyle Study of Operation Snowbird came about. Operation Snowbird is the Air National Guard training program that brings sister service and foreign fighter aircraft in and out of Davis-Monthan (DM) over urban Tucson. Since this program is open to all sister and allied services, it may well include the F-35 in the future as US and allied fighter jets are replaced. It has been almost 10 months since Wyle Engineering promised at a public meeting on October 30, 2009 that they would be working on a draft report of Operation Snowbird for presentation to the MCRC and the public.

Tucson telescope projects win big today

TF Note: Tucson Forward’s mission is not only to oppose the F-35 and other high-performance jets from flying over urban Tucson neighborhoods, but also “to foster economic, scientific and technological development of Tucson in a way that supports and promotes a good quality of life for all its citizens.” Tucson has just been awarded a big plum by the National Academy of Science.

Chief says he’s feeling better about F-35

YourAirForce By John Reed jreed@defensenews.com Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz is “more optimistic” than he was a few months ago about the future of the F-35 Lightning II pro­gram because of the progress being made in testing the plane. “I am more confident than …

Lockheed F-35′s Parts to Get More Scrutiny Amid Test Delays, Pentagon Says

Other responses to a “higher than expected” failure rate on some components for the Marine Corps and Air Force versions of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s $382.4 billion fighter-jet program include revised flight days and parts redesigns, if necessary, Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said in an e-mailed statement prepared by the program manager.

Congratulations Tucson Forward Team!

Listen in on Sunday night, Aug. 1st, at 8pm as Tucson Forward breaks part of the media blackout and speaks out on a radio program that reaches into 52 markets nationwide. In Arizona, people can listen on kuband satellite or live on the net at www.republicbroadcasting.org Click on Listen Live on the lower right of the Home Page. The Call-In Number: 800-313-9443

PRESS RELEASE

www.TucsonForward.com 7/30/2010 Tucson Forward Scores Second Major Victory in Fight Against F-35 Years of activism paid off yesterday for Tucson Forward when the Pentagon announced it would bypass Tucson and instead locate the new F-35 aircraft at Luke AFB near Phoenix. Tucson Forward, a group of citizens dedicated to protecting the property rights and quality of life of the people of Southern Arizona, hailed the announcement as a major victory for common sense.

TUCSON IS NOT ON THE LIST FOR THE F-35

“The preferred alternative locations are: Operations – Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt., Training – Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.”

Gov. Brewer Awards $1.5M to Arizona Center for Innovation

The grant will allow the center, located at the UA Tech Park, to purchase laboratory equipment, establish a “Mentor in Residence Program” and develop a commercialization training program that can be implemented statewide. By Jessa B. Turner, UA Tech Park July 28, 2010 Gov. Jan …

Officials Recommend Eglin as Preferred Alternative F-35 base

The decision to limit the number of F-35s to 59 was based on airspace limitations highlighted in the modeling efforts of the Gulf Region Airspace Strategic Initiative, Ms. Ferguson said. The GRASI modeling indicates Eglin-managed mission airspace couldn’t accommodate aircraft above that number.

Game-changing JSF deserves showcasing at Farnborough

The U.S. is not taking the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fight­er to England’s Farnborough International Air Show, one of the two biggest trade shows in the world for the air defense industry. It’s a decision the Pentagon will come to regret. The JSF is …

FAA denial means turbulence for Idaho’s F-35 hopes

Jul 18, 6:39 PM EDT BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration’s denial of a request for expanded training airspace could harm Idaho’s chances of landing F-35 Joint Strike Fighter wings, the commander of the Mountain Home Air Force Base in southern Idaho says.…

CONGRATULATIONS, TUCSON FORWARD!

Although it has been known for some time that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Operation Snowbird, D-M’s Air National Guard combat training program for sister services and foreign pilots, would ultimately have to be done, it was only officially announced at the Military Community Relations Committee (MCRC) meeting on Wednesday, July 14, 2010. The Air Force would like to take credit for initiating the Wyle study which called for this EIS, but the credit goes to the citizens who noted the significant changes in aircraft, followed through in researching not only the type of aircraft but the expansion of the Operation Snowbird campus at Davis-Monthan to accomodate an expanded program. A BIG thank you goes to those who spent countless hours sending E-mails, writing and editing the letters and gathering the almost five hundred signatures on a letter to the Secretary of Defense and 800 more signatures on a letter to President Obama about the Air National Guard programs that fly at low levels over the City of Tucson. They went door-to-door. They took the letter to the UA campus and to local events to gather citizen signatures. The City of Tucson gave them no help or support.

WHAT ABOUT THE GILA BEND AIR FORCE AUXILIARY FIELD AS A POSSIBLE TRAINING LOCATION FOR THE F-35 AND OTHER HIGH-PERFORMANCE JETS?

Some say “no”. It isn’t Tucson Forward’s job to come up with possible locations for the nosiest jet the military has ever known. Others say that Gila Bend is a better option for the F-35 beddown than a commercial airport in an urban area. There is a lot going on at Gila Bend that might make it a viable option for big-scale military training.

Near-collisions on rise in Washington area’s skies amid influx of inexperienced controllers

By Ashley Halsey III Washington Post Staff Writer July 5, 2010; A01 A 120-seat United Airlines plane bound for Reagan National Airport from Chicago narrowly avoided colliding with a business jet departing from Dulles last Monday, the latest of 22 recent potentially dangerous mistakes by …

WHAT WOULD CHANGE IF A F-35 CRASHED INTO A TUCSON NEIGHBORHOOD ?

The frightening answer is..Maybe nothing would change. Nothing would be done to safeguard the citizens of Tucson. Read the story of what is happening in San Diego after the crash of a military aircraft into a house killing two babies, their mother and grandmother.

DoD Adviser: Foes’ Advances Might Lead to F-35 Fleet Shrinkage

By JOHN T. BENNETT Defense News 29 Jun 2010 The Obama administration may have to rethink whether the U.S. military will need 2,500 F-35 fighter jets, and needs to craft a clear, prioritized national security strategy, a top Pentagon adviser told reporters June 29. The …

Proposed Maps for TIA and D-M

Many have been asking about maps of the Davis-Monthan Vicinity box and the noise contour and flight path maps for TIA. Both sets of maps are in process of revision. We are bringing the old and the new maps to you. Note: THE TIA MAPS DO NOT INCLUDE THE NOISE CONTOURS OR FLIGHT PATHS FOR THE F-35. YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER OR PIMA COUNTY SUPERVISOR TO REQUEST THAT THE AIR FORCE SUPPLY THESE MAPS TO THE PUBLIC. ALSO, WE NEED A FLYOVER BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. Maps in process of being posted

Lockheed in Talks to Reduce Price of F-35 Planes by 20%

By CHRISTOPHER DREW New York Times June 17, 2010 WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin is negotiating to cut the price for the next group of its new F-35 fighter planes to at least 20 percent less than Pentagon officials projected last fall, Robert J. Stevens, the …

TUCSON FORWARD WALL OF SHAME

This summer the Tucson Forward Team will be working to update and improve your website. One of our new features will be “A Wall of Shame”. It will feature primarily, but not exclusively, elected officials who say or do anything related to the F-35 that is irresponsible or lacking in consideration of the health and welfare of the Tucson community. Lack of action counts toward qualification for the Wall of Shame.

Rising F-35 costs not too shocking

Rising cost estimates Here are Pentagon estimates of the total cost for development and acquisition of the F-35. The original estimate in 2001 dollars was $177.1 billion. These estimates take inflation into account. October 2001: $226.5 billion June 2004: $245 billion December 2005: $276.5 billion…

Noise, Lawsuits, Oceana, Fentress and the US Navy

Click to see information about various lawsuits over military aircraft noise and its effect on human health and learning.…

Other Places: A Letter From A Resident Near Holloman AFB, N.M.

We know, firsthand, what effects the F-22 mission is having on the public and how our concerns continue to go ignored regardless of the impact to the public. If the F-35 is located here, it too will be going super sonic over our homes and our great communities and the loud noise associated with the aircraft will greatly impact the people and our quality of life especially now that the airspace enhancements have been done making our communities not the safe haven they once were. I believe concerned people will be treated in much of the same way as the Air Force, leaders, and the FAA are treating us now in regards to our concerns over these questionable military activities over populated areas. Here also some people are considering their legal rights in the matter involving the F-22 and F-35.

Landing field opponents seek new timeline from Navy

TF Note: Could the TIA EIS simply be extended/delayed, leaving everyone hanging? By Kate Wiltrout The Virginian-Pilot © June 11, 2010 Three groups who oppose Navy plans for a jet practice landing field in Virginia or North Carolina have banded together to ask the service …

Japanese Prime Minister Resigns Over Okinawa Air Base

US recognises Japanese concerns over base: Gates(AFP) June 3, 2010 Note: Hopefully, Sec. Gates will be sensitive to the concerns Tucsonans have over basing the F-35 in our densely-populated area. SINGAPORE — US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that Washington needed to …

OTHER PLACES ARE ALSO OPPOSED TO THE F-35

Tucson is not the only place where opposition to the F-35 is mounting. Opposition to loud untested aircraft is showing up in places like Valparaiso, Fl., Boise, Id., El Mirage and Wittman, Az, South Burlington, Vt, and Key West and N. Tampa, Fl. The list …

DoD: Total F-35 price tag could reach $382B

By John T. Bennett – Staff writer Air Force Times Posted : Thursday Jun 3, 2010 9:53:18 EDT Senior Pentagon officials on Tuesday announced the F-35 fighter and five other major weapon systems have surpassed a legal cost threshold, while also criticizing the review process …

Ashton Carter–Misleading Congress with F-35 Nunn-McCurdy Recertification

Eric Palmer | June 3, 2010 The DOD’s top procurement guy Ashton Carter starts out his letter (PDF) to our elected officials, which recertifies the F-35 after its Nunn-McCurdy cost breach with a lie. Several of them actually. He states that there are no alternatives …

The Local Military Community Relations Committee Recommends a F-35 Fly-Over

“At the January 20, 2010 Military Community Relations Committee for Tucson and Davis-Monthan AFB meeting, the committee passed by consensus the following resolution:” ‘The Military Community Relations Committee requests that actual noise measurement vs. modeling data be gathered in Tucson for the current EIS for the F-35A.’

Japanese premier Yukio Hatoyama resigns; fourth PM to quit within 1st year

By John Pomfret The Washington Post Tuesday, June 1, 2010 BEIJING — Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who ended five decades of single-party rule when he swept to power in August but stumbled when he confronted the country’s longtime ally, the United States, resigned Wednesday. …

Americans Forced to Quiet Down

Note: The Federal Noise Control Act does not cover noise from military aircraft. PARADE May 31, 2010 Drew Jubera The increasing volume of American life — from construction sites, car alarms, and barking dogs to booming stereos — is leading lawmakers across the country to …

Communities vie to get the newest Air Force jet

Still, some residents worry about noise, impact on property values By JOHN MILLER AP Sun., May 30, 2010 BOISE, Idaho – The new F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter is tardy, billions over budget and the roar of its jet engine could eclipse the older …

F-35 training hazards

Eric Palmer | May 29, 2010 This from Inside Defense (www.insidedefense.com subscription)- JSF Training Commander Confident He Will Get First F-35 Aircraft In Fall EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL — The commander of the Joint Strike Fighter training wing is confident the Pentagon will receive …

ARE THE F-35s BEING USED IN BATTLE?

Excerpt from Senate panel OKs 6,000 troops for border By Andy Leonatti CongressDaily May 28, 2010 It also includes $9.1 billion to build 42 Joint Strike Fighters, which Levin said will fully fund the Pentagon’s request. An additional $205 million is included to buy a …

City cracks top 20 in Forbes’ innovation list

Note: This article is included on Tucson Forward to demonstrate other economic paths that Tucson can take rather than being used as the tarmac for ear-splitting aircraft like the F-35. Arizona Daily Star Thursday, May 27, 2010 Tucson ranked 19th on Forbes’ recent list of …

Rust and Roll For F-22; HASC Watches JSF

By Colin Clark Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 Posted in Air, Land, Naval, Policy Rust is not something the average person thinks much about when it comes to designing high-tech weapons. But several years ago I reported on a major missile test defense test that was …

Tech Park hotel on way

Note: Tucson Forward is including this article about the UA Tech Park due to their possitive economic impact on Tucson without doing harm to local citizens. This is not a comment on the feasibility of the Tech Park Hotel. Bonds authorized; construction could begin early …

House defies Gates over combat jet

By JEN DIMASCIO | 5/13/10 Politico Robert Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is campaigning against funding for the second engine, said he’ll recommend the president veto any bill that includes money for both engines. House lawmakers Thursday defied the Obama administration in a longstanding fight …

3 REASONS TUCSON ISN’T RIGHT FOR THE F-35

ENCROACHMENT, ENCROACHMENT, ENCROACHMENT.. RECALL THAT IF THE F-35 IS ASSIGNED TO TUCSON, THE NOISE CONTOURS FOR TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (TIA) AND POSSIBLY, DAVIS-MONTHAN (DMAFB) IN THE FUTURE, WILL AT LEAST DOUBLE. THOUSANDS OF MORE HOMES WILL BECOME “INCOMPATIBLE WITH RESIDENTIAL USE”. THERE WILL BE AIR SPACE PROBLEMS. THESE TWO AIR FACILITIES, TIA AND DM, ARE LESS THAN 5 MILES APART. EACH FLYS IN THEIR DESIGNATED AREA. RECALL, TUCSON IS IN A VALLEY SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS, FURTHER AMPLIFYING THE SOUND AND MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENT TO THE FLIGHT PATHS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. Check out the maps to follow.

The Nuclear F-35

In response to a query from the Daily Report, an Air Force spokeswoman said the nuclear capability will be incorporated in the F-35 “as part of the program’s future development,” although she did not state a timetable for the project.

Navy F-35 ‘Risk Assessment’ Warned Of Crash Risk, Cost Growth

Vice Adm. David Venlet was tapped by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to head the Joint Strike Fighter program after his staff produced a “risk assessment” of the F-35 program last year warning that the JSF aircraft faced an increased chance of crashing during training, in addition to the risk of runaway costs that might impact other modernization efforts, according to an October 2009 briefing and military officials.

Lack of sleep linked to early death: study

LONDON (AFP) – People who get less than six hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, researchers said on Wednesday.

THE F-35 COULD BE A DISASTER SAYS WHEELER

I have never seen the leadership for our tactical air forces in the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps make themselves so dependent on the success of a single aircraft as they have with the F-35, and – more importantly – I have never seen a new aircraft so clearly a technological disappointment as the F-35. Winslow Wheeler

Now Don’t Hear

By GEORGE PROCHNIK May 1, 2010 N.Y. Times LAST Wednesday was International Noise Awareness Day, but if you missed it, you weren’t alone. Begun in New York 15 years ago as a grass-roots effort to educate people about the harmful health effects of excessive noise, …

SIERRA CLUB DOESN’T THINK THE F-35 IS RIGHT FOR TUCSON

TIA is in an urban area of 1 million residents. Flights into and out of TIA and nearby Davis-Monthan Air Force Base require low-level approaches and departures over heavily populated areas.

New fixed-price deal pitch for 2nd JSF engine

By John Reed – Air Force Times Posted : Tuesday Apr 27, 2010 9:40:35 EDT General Electric and Rolls-Royce have once again pitched the Pentagon on a fixed price contract for roughly 150 of their F136 engines, a move designed to save the Pentagon $1 …

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO D-M’S ANG OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE?

Mullen: F-16 units’ fate undecided By Dan Elliott – The Associated Press Posted : Tuesday Apr 27, 2010 7:30:14 EDT BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Air Force units that fly aging F-16 fighter jets on homeland security missions may not learn their future for …

90,000 Protest U.S. Base on Okinawa

New York Times April 25, 2010 By MARTIN FACKLER TOKYO — More than 90,000 Okinawans rallied Sunday to oppose the relocation of an American air base on their island, adding to the pressure on Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to resolve an issue that has divided …

Empty Skies Proved that Airports Cause Pollution, say Researchers

Published on Thursday, April 22, 2010 by The Independent/UK by Michael McCarthy Scientists have used the no-flying period caused by the ash cloud to show for the first time that airports are themselves significant causes of pollution. Although long suspected, the fact that mass take-offs …

Luke Air Force Base jet-noise study worrying El Mirage

by Cecilia Chan – Apr. 15, 2010 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic El Mirage is touting a noise study that says property values could drop if a new jet comes to Luke Air Force Base, the city’s latest foray in an ongoing economic-development battle. El …

Air Force still committed to F-35 program

Staff report-Air Force Times Posted : Wednesday Apr 14, 2010 12:48:04 EDT The Air Force is not looking at new options to extend the service life of its fighter fleet despite continued setbacks in the F-35 program, service officials told legislators Tuesday. The service will …

AZ governor touts Luke for new fighter jet

The Associated Press Posted : Monday Apr 12, 2010 21:10:32 EDT PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer visited the Washington area Monday to tout Luke Air Force Base to officials looking for a training base for pilots who will fly a new fighter jet. Luke is …

Lockheed F-35 Projected Cost May Rise an Additional $51 Billion

By Tony Capaccio April 12 (Bloomberg) — The cost of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter, the most expensive U.S. weapons program, may rise as much as $51 billion beyond the $328 billion estimate given to Congress April 1, according to a worse-case Pentagon scenario. The …

An Emmy Winner Chimes in Regarding the F-35

Note: It is Tucson Forward’s understanding that the Chris Reynold’s statement in the Weekly was unfortunately a misquote. The Tucson Weekly Mailbag, April 8, 2010 I used to live in the (military) over-fly zone and very often would see two to four jets in close …

Danger Room What’s Next in National Security Nuclear Upgrade for the Pentagon’s Gajillion-Dollar Fighter

By Nathan Hodge Wired.com April 7, 2010 As part of a newly unveiled Nuclear Posture Review, the Pentagon has made public plans to make its all-purpose stealth fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons. But in the interim, it still has to cope with some massive …

US Air Force Eyes Service-Life Extensions for Older Fighters

By JOHN REED Defense News 2 Apr 2010 U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz confirmed that the air service has begun stress tests on its fleet of F-16 Falcons to help determine how to keep several hundred of the jets airworthy through …

Expert: Bringing F-35 jet to Luke AFB will drop home values

abc15.com 04/02/2010 EL MIRAGE, AZ — Officials say home prices in one west Valley city could drop if the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is brought to Luke Air Force Base. “It’s a substantial hit to homeowners in the West Valley,” said Stacy Peason with the …

Air show is one thing; F-35 noise is another

Re: the March 27 letter to the editor “Air show proves Tucson wants F-35s.” It is ridiculous to suggest that because the air show was a success, the F-35 should be brought in to fly over Tucson. The air show can be used to help …

Guard Lobbies NW Republicans (Marana) on the F-35

Lt. Col. Will Johnson of the 162nd Air National Guard made a presentation about the F-35 to the Northwest Republicans (Marana Chapter) on Wednesday, March 31st. He said that they would be aiming to bring in 72 of these high-tech aircraft to the ANG unit …

Pentagon says many arms programs not performing

Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:18pm BST Reuters UK * Greater use of independent cost estimates seen * Pentagon needs earlier tip-off of problems WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) – Ashton Carter, the Pentagon’s top acquisition official, said on Monday that many U.S. weapons programs were not …

Washington’s Dirty Little Secret about the F-35

“On May 3, 2007, during the 19th test flight of the prototype of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), a serious electrical malfunction occurred in the control of the plane. After an emergency landing the malfunction could be identified as a crucial problem, and it became clear that redesign of critical electronic components was necessary. Producer Lockheed Martin and program officials first announced there was a minor problem, and later on they avoided any further publicity about the problems.” Why weren’t the design flaws in the F-35 disclosed at the EIS scoping meetings held here in early March? The public had a right to this information before being asked to comment on what will be included in the draft EIS for TIA?

Key West, Fl Seeking Legal Measures Over Jet Noise

Citizens of Key West are investigating legal action…

600 Tucsonans Send Letter to the Secretary of the Air Force

Tucsonans have no experience with the F-35, and cannot be asked in an EIS to anticipate the negative impact on our neighborhoods. We do expect our elected officials to defend our property rights and wellbeing, but sadly, this is no longer the case. Should the F-35 be based here, the tens of thousands of property owners around TIA and DM will have little recourse but to sue to recoup what is likely to be substantial losses in property values.

F-35 fighter fleet’s price may be double forecast

By Jim Wolf MSN.com March. 19, 2010 WASHINGTON – The estimated total cost of Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 fighter jets being bought by the Pentagon may be nearly twice as high as originally forecast, the Defense Department said Friday. The bill for 2,443 F-35s is …

GAO Reports Joint Strike Fighter: Additional Costs and Delays Risk Not Meeting Warfighter Requirements on Time

GAO-10-382 March 19, 2010 Summary The F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is the Department of Defense’s (DOD) most costly and ambitious aircraft acquisition, seeking to simultaneously develop and field three aircraft variants for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, …

Gates picks vice admiral to run troubled F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet program

By Roxana Tiron – The Hill – 03/16/10 After weeks of speculation, Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday picked Vice Adm. David Venlet to run the troubled F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Venlet, a three-star officer, will need Senate confirmation for the position, which will …

The F-35 Program Is Patriotism Turned on Its Head!

The Air Force wants to locate F-35 fighter-bombers in Tucson. Some applaud this as an economic stimulus. The apparent logic is that keeping planes here, even such exotic planes as F-35s, will produce jobs. In reality, this is all about saving jobs, not creating new …

DoD: F-35 costs rise at least 50 percent

By John Reed – Staff writer-Air Force Times Thursday Mar 11, 2010 The F-35 Lightning II strike fighter program will breach the Nunn-McCurdy limits with a cost growth of more than 50 percent from the original 2001 program baseline, said a top Pentagon program evaluator.…

Cost of F-35 Has Risen 60% to 90%, Military Says

By CHRISTOPHER DREW-Air Force Times Published: March 11, 2010 The projected cost of Lockheed Martin’s new Joint Strike Fighter has increased 60 to 90 percent in real terms since 2001, blowing well past a level requiring the program to be revamped, Pentagon officials said Thursday. …

What happens if an F-35 crashes?

Another comment/observation about the F-35s training flights over Tucson. I admit that I don’t like the noise they make either, but something else bothers me a lot more. Many of us remember the 1970s crash of a training jet just south of the UA stadium …

Jet noise may drown out sound of freedom

Re: the March 2 article “Many at F-35 forum ask to judge noise with flyby.” Those who claim they “love the sound of freedom” and who wish to hear F-35s flying over us may soon be deafened by the F-35s’ noise – and thus unable …

Sierra Vista to have F-35 meeting

Published on The Sierra Vista Herald (http://www.svherald.com) March 8, 2010 Military: Air Force representatives have information on joint strike fighter TUCSON — U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Monday announced that the U.S. Air Force will hold a March 30 meeting in Sierra Vista before deciding …

The F-35 Fight

By Carli Brosseau, Zocalo Tucson Magazine March 7, 2010 To save money, the U.S. military decided to stake its future on one fighter jet for all military branches: the F-35. It’s fast, it’s versatile and it’s loud: at least twice as loud as the F-16, …

Air Force must provide an F-35 flyover

Re: the March 2 article “Many at F-35 forum ask to judge noise with flyby.” What are the decibel readings of the new F-35s, and why won’t the Air Force do a flyover, or at least get us “noise data” on them? I have a …

Noise is the issue at public meetings for F-35

By Joe Pangburn, Inside Tucson Business Published on Friday, March 05, 2010 A community divided was on display at last week’s scoping meetings held as part of the Air Force’s preliminary planning for possibly locating an F-35 jet fighter training facility at the Air National …

DoD memo formalizes F-35 program overhaul

By John Reed – Staff writer Air Force Times Wednesday Mar 3, 2010 The Pentagon’s top weapons buyer late last week formalized the restructuring to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, extending the plane’s test phase to 2015 and delaying the start of its full …

Many at F-35 forum ask to judge noise with flyby

Again and again, citizens asked if the service was willing to test-fly the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter over the city to see what it sounds like before a final basing decision is made. A Pentagon official said that no such testing would take place. U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords called it “unacceptable” that the service had not done so.

Carter To Brief F-35 Partners on Program Changes

Senior Pentagon brass late last year began a comprehensive relook at the program after an internal DoD study group estimated additional F-35 cost growth and schedule slips were coming.

Want a Better Listener? Protect Those Ears

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, more than 15 minutes of exposure to 100 decibels is unsafe. F-35 over our heads will likely exceed this decible level.

Internal Pentagon memo predicts that F-35 testing won’t be complete until 2016

Secretary Gates settled on a plan for adding $2.8 billion to the development budget of the F-35 in 2011 and extending the timeline by 13 months.

Flyover Future

Opponents warn that if the F-35 comes to Tucson, city residents will be heavily impacted by noise and safety issues.

Do F-35 training in less populated area

Regarding the F-35, my question is why put this noisy aircraft in either city, Tucson or Phoenix? Both cities have grown too big to host such an aircraft.

How the F-35 Is Stalling, Even Before Take-Off

The Air Force has admitted that the program may be facing a major cost and schedule breach.

Consider pilots, not profits

Jeff Lattas, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, says the citizens have seen enough greed of the influential few at public expense; maybe those who stand the greatest economic benefit (from the F-35) should have their patriotism examined instead of mine.

When it’s quiet, Tucson is magical

Tucson can host quieter missions than the F-35.

Jet noise is actually painful to some

Having the F-35 will do more than affect quality of life, property values and more in Tucson – it will actually hurt some people in our community.

AF chief: F-35 could breach Nunn-McCurdy limits

The F-35 Lightning II fighter jet program might breach limits on unit cost growth, said Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz.

Louder jets at D-M will infringe on citizens’ rights and damage Tucsonans’ quality of life

Are assaults on ears and health really “the sound of freedom” or of needless environmental destruction? Doesn’t the Air Force already have plenty of nonurban space where they could operate? If the goal is to protect Americans, why not think of citizens who live under flight paths?

New tech academy connects students and industry, with careers as a goal

This article fits with the Tucson Forward philosopy, “We aim to foster economic, scientific and technological development of Tucson in a way that supports and promotes a good quality of life for all its citizens”

Noisy jets make sound of arrogance

To those who say the F-35 is the sound of freedom, I say it is the sound of an arrogant nation that still thinks force is the best defense from those who threaten us.

Operation Snowbird: The Tornados are coming

Eight Tornados will operate at Operation Snowbird for the second and third weeks of February.

Changing course on the Joint Strike Fighter

Defense Depart­ment risks backlash from taxpay­ers sick of delays and soaring costs and the Navy’s support of the F-35 has been called into question.

Air Force should bring F-35 for visit

Just how loud will the F-35s be? The only way to answer the question – and it does require an answer – is for the Air Force to bring an F-35 to Tucson and have the test pilot spend a week flying in and out of TIA . (And we think they should fly the proposed flightpath which includes use of the flight line at D-M, during day and night and give the community the opportunity to bring in a independent acoustic engineer to do sound measurement.)

Decibel level jacks up in debate over whether to host F-35s

Supporters and opponents of the high-tech, high-noise F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have launched dueling Web sites to solicit backing as the Air Force readies for a first round of public-input sessions.

Jet noise has a negative effect on economy

If Jim Click thinks F-35s at Tucson International Airport will be so wonderful for our economy, he should request that each F-35 flight be routed directly over his home. Then he can experience firsthand the effect these flights will inflict on the property values and quality of life for all the thousands who live near the airport.

Military jets’ noise hits nerve

Four F-18s swooped over the Oracle and Grant Roads neighborhood. Residents who normally are not bothered by aircraft noise are up in arms when windows shook and car alarms when off.

No Defense for This Budget

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter contributes to the out of control defense budget.

Gates Shakes Up Leadership and Funding for F-35

By CHRISTOPHER DREW and THOM SHANKER Published: February 1, 2010 New York Times WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said on Monday that he was replacing the general in charge of the Pentagon’s largest weapons program — the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter — and …

F-35′s per-hour expense may be $31,000, estimate says

According to the presentation, as reported by Congress Daily, Navy Times, Inside Defense, and other defense publications, the jet fighter could cost the Navy $31,000 per hour to fly, $12,000 more than the F/A-18 Super Hornets and AV-8A Harriers it will replace.

F-35s are too loud for populated areas

Retired AF Colonel, Robert Perkin, says that Tucson is “a very poor match for the F-35 aircraft in its current configuration.”

Noise Levels if the F-35 Comes to Tucson International Airport

Air National Guard flights will be about three times as loud and spread over more than 4 times the area, if the new F-35 fighter comes to the Guard at Tucson International Airport. This information is based entirely on Air Force sponsored documents. Currently, the …

A Base for War Training, and Species Preservation

“There is a strong understanding now that land is a limited resource, and that even our military is part of a larger ecosystem,” he said. “If that degrades, it is harder for us to do our mission.”

Fighter-jet noise has various meanings

Some hear the sweet ring of freedom in the roar of fighter jets. Some flash back to the din of past wars. Others with loud sound-effect conditions cringe. Still others shudder at a reminder of future chaos. We hear from where we stand and where …

Lung-damaging smog in Pima County expected to violate stricter EPA rules

Pima County’s air will be in danger of violating federal smog standards under the Environmental Protection Agency’s new proposal to tighten the existing emission limits for a polluting compound, ground-level ozone. Seven other Arizona counties probably would join Maricopa on a list of violators if …

Link to the Wittman News

A number of pro and anti F-35 articles published by the Wittmann News.

F-35 noise hard on homeowners

Re: the Dec. 8 guest opinion “F- 35 fighter would enhance bases’ local economic impacts.” Maybe we shouldn’t be spending millions to soundproof homes near flight paths because, according to Gov. Jan Brewer in her guest opinion on F-35 jet fighters, we are depriving homeowners …

Don’t base loud F-35s in Tucson

Letters to the Editor Arizona Daily Star 12/16/2009 Re: the Dec. 8 guest opinion “F- 35 fighter would enhance bases’ local economic impacts.” Basing the F-35 Air Force jet in Tucson is a very bad idea. Tucson is an asset to all of Arizona because …

F-35s are not the ‘sound of freedom’

Letters to the Editor Arizona Daily Star 12/15/09 Re: the Dec. 8 guest opinion “F- 35 fighter would enhance bases’ local economic impacts.” Gov. Jan Brewer might hear “the sound of freedom” when military aircraft roar overhead, but pro-peace Arizonans hear instead the agonized screams …

F-35 Noise Measurements

The Air Force has asserted that the F-35 is no noisier than present fighter aircraft. Is the assertion valid? For a detailed comparison and analysis view this document, featuring data compiled by Bob Webb, MSEE, AFRL/MN, GM-15/RET on April 22 & 23, 2009. Want …

How loud is the F-35?

From nwfdailynews.com: The Joint Strike Fighter makes its debut over the Emerald Coast. How many decibels register from the ground?…

F-35 fighter would enhance bases’ local economic impacts

Guest Opinion By Gov. Janice K. Brewer Special to the Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.08.2009 As a child raised on a military base, I have a special affection for our armed forces and the men and women who serve in them. As …

San Antonio Built Community Coalition to Land Cyberwarfare Headquarters

Why Wasn’t D-M Even on the Short List? Lackland Air Force Base here was named home for the new Air Force cyberwarfare operation after a competition that pitted San Antonio against communities with better-known bases in Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska and Virginia. Read the Rest

Noisy Neighbor?

The Air Force may base a loud fighter at Davis-Monthan Tucson Weekly 10/22/09 by Molly McKasson and Dave Devine The U.S. Air Force is in the process of selecting bases to handle the training and operational needs of the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. These …

Matt Salmon Tells El Mirage To Do Their Due Diligence

REMARKS OF THE HONORABLE MATTHEW J. SALMON ON THE CITY OF EL MIRAGE AND THE AIR FORCE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CITY OF EL MIRAGE AND THE AIR FORCE PUBLIC FORUM EL MIRAGE, ARIZONA OCTOBER 21, 2009…

Airport Noise Abatement in Minneapolis

Cities win lawsuit That’s why the Cities of Minneapolis, Richfield and Eagan, as well as the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) in 2005 seeking to require the MAC to provide homes with noise abatement (insulation and/or air conditioning, for example) help. The cities’ lawsuit was based on the premise that the MAC violated the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act by impairing airport neighbors’ right to quietude and violating an environmental standard that was created when the MAC agreed to expand its existing noise relief program to the 60 DNL (day/night noise level) contour.

F-35 noise will lower Tucson’s appeal

Letters to the Editor Arizona Daily Star 10/2/09 Re: the Sept. 25 article “D-M could be base for loud new fighter jet.” Tucson is highlighted in October’s AARP issue as the best (out of five “best”) place to live. Among many other points, the article …

F-35 will damage Tucson’s quality of life

Letters to the editor Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.30.2009 Re: the Sept. 25 article “D-M could be base for loud new fighter jet.” The new F-35 fighter aircraft will be at least twice as loud on takeoff and four times as loud …

D-M Better Suited for Quieter Missions

A retired lieutenant general and former D-M wing commander, Eugene Santarelli, says that if he had it to do over again, he’d focus more on promoting D-M as a location for quieter missions such as unmanned aircraft training or light attack aircraft.

The Nuclear F-35

In response to a query from the Daily Report, an Air Force spokeswoman said the nuclear capability will be incorporated in the F-35 “as part of the program’s future development,” although she did not state a timetable for the project.

800 Tucsonans Warn Obama of Safety Concerns

The Air Force brings to Tucson Harriers, Tornados, F-15, F-18s and F-16s. Several have relatively poor safety records. For example, Harriers have had two major crashes in Arizona recently, including one in a residential neighborhood in Yuma.

Study: Airport Noise Increases Risk of Strokes

According to the unpublished study, commissioned by Germany’s Federal Environment Agency, men who are exposed to jet noise have a 69% higher risk of being hospitalized for cardiovascular disease. Women living under flight paths fare even worse, logging a 93% higher rate of hospitalization with cardiovascular problems, compared with their counterparts in quiet residential areas. The study found that women who are exposed to jet noise (of about 60 decibels) during the day are 172% more likely to suffer a stroke.

More than 500 Residents Ask AF to Keep Their Promise

The Air Force has long recognized the problem of urban encrouchment at D-M AFB. After a crash in Tucson of a single engine jet, the Air Force advised the community that the conversion from single engine to dual engine jets would be completed over the following year.

Valparaiso: Lawsuit Settled

GUEST COLUMN (for NWF Daily News) Valparaiso, Lawsuits, and Eglin F-35 Basing Question: What would have been the result IF…………..The City of Valparaiso had not sued the Air Force last year over the Eglin F-35 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)? Answer: The Air Force would …

Almost Two Years Ago 350 Residents Told AF that Assignment of F-35 to Tucson is Irresponsible

D-M AFB is already surrounded on three sides by churches, schools, homes, and businesses. The growing University of Arizona Technology Park with over 7,000 employees is located in the high-accident-potential zone.

El Mirage: Lawsuit

Cities tussle with El Mirage over F-35 noise issue…

Oceana: Settled And Ongoing Lawsuits Over Jet Noise

Another class-action lawsuit filed over Navy jet noise…

Three things you can do to protect our community property values

What kind of community do we live in?

The following opinion was published in the October 29, 2004 edition of the Arizona Daily Star…

Flight Fight

The following article appeared in the September 23, 2004 edition of the Tucson Weekly:

Noisy jet’s D-M debut is delayed

Originally published July 6, 2004

In Military Towns, Contractors’ Windfall Is Not Doing Much Trickling Down

February 17, 2003 The fortunes of the Air Force base here, Arizona’s largest with 8,300 members of the military and 1,600 civilians, could be darkening. It does not make anything, so it spurs the economy much less than Raytheon does. Still, in an economic impact analysis for September 2001, the base said it disbursed $375 million in wages a year and spent $251 million locally for housing, asphalt, cement, lumber and various services. Those figures, which Mr. Vest says account for 2 percent of Tucson’s economy, could shrivel starting in 2005, when the base could become a target of the government’s Base Realignment and Closure Commission, known as BRAC.

Air Traffic, A report to the UA Facuty Senate by the Air Traffic Committee

Air Traffic A report to the University of Arizona Faculty Senate by the Air Traffic Committee, University of Arizona, 31, March 1979 Summary The committee recommends that : 1) All controlled aircraft vectored over the University and the central Tucson should be assigned altitudes higher …