Tensions ran high between Tucsonans and local community leaders over the potential plan to house the F-35A Lightning II Aircraft at Davis Monthan Air Force Base as a replacement to the A-10 Thunderbolt II during last night’s public hearing at the Tucson Convention Center.
Many local residents are concerned by potential noise pollution caused by the F-35A that registers at 65 decibels or more. The decibel range is as loud as being in the same room as a washing machine, according to Centers for Disease Control website.
“I can barley get my hands over my ears to stop the pain levels that occurs when one of these planes fly over,” said Julia Keen Neighborhood resident Peter Dooley. TUSD closed Julia Keen Elementary School due to DMAFB aircraft noise in 2004. “If anyone says they haven’t heard any complaints from residents, they haven’t spent much time in Julia Keen.”
Davis Monthan is one of three bases selected as an alternate location to the Naval Air Station Joint Base in Dallas/Fort Worth, should the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) decide to not station the F-35A in Texas. The hearing gave AFRC officials a chance to listen to the concerns of community members. The community input will help draft an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to help the AFRC determine the best location for their AFRC F-35 Operational Bed-Down.
“The goal of this effort is to ensure that fighter aircraft are the best available to support a high threat, multirole war capability to commanders worldwide,” said hearing moderator Col. Tobin C. Griffeth. “The Air Force is proposing to establish the AFRC bed-down at one Air Force installation in the continental United States where the AFRC could lead a global precision attack mission.”
According to the EIS, if the F-35A bed-down mission comes to Tucson, locals could expect “an estimated 1,361 to 1,506 would be exposed to Day/Night levels of 65 decibels or greater. Significant impact to socioeconomic resources would also result from the noise impact to schools. Implementation of the proposed mission would also result in the disproportionate impact to minority and low-income populations.”
If the AFRC decides to station the F-35 at Homestead AFB in Florida, only six to eight residential acres would be impacted, affecting 104 residents of the area, according to the EIS.
While Tucson isn’t No. 1 on AFRC’s list, several political leaders such as Pima County Supervisors Ramon Valdez and Steve Christy, along with Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry spoke in favor of the proposed “bed-down mission,” hoping the Air Force will bring the F-35A to the Old Pueblo. Valdez said the county fully supports the mission despite the problems that arise from aircraft noise in his district.
“The council supports the EIS process and understand the findings of the F-35A aircraft,” Valdez said. “We further understand the basis behind the resulting increase in noise contours and potential impact to surrounding neighborhoods,”
Ron Barber, district director for Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, read a statement from the congresswoman in support of AFRC’s proposed bed-down at Davis Monthan.
“I have no doubt that the Tucson Community will continue to support the future Air Force missions at Davis Monthan Air Force Base,” Barber said on behalf of Kirkpatrick. “Ranked consistently as one of the sunniest cities in America, Tucson will provide an incredible environment, not only to the F-35 but to the airmen stationed at Davis Monthan.”
While more residents spoke out against the F-35 coming to Tucson, some residents welcome the sound of the aircraft. Local Robin Stoddard said “most of the complaints of aircraft noise are from a handful of individuals” who have been saying the same thing for decades.
“This jet noise is not something that has to be put up with. It’s the noise of freedom,” Stoddard said. “It’s the noise of a chance to survive dreadful captivity.”
But midtown resident Elizabeth Hubbard calls the sound of the aircraft “an American nightmare” that’s she and her neighbors live through each day. Hubbard said she spends a lot of time at Reid Park near her house. When the planes fly over she said she “needs to find shelter from the freedom” and is concerned with all the cases of cancer that are popping up in her neighborhood. Hubbard said believes it’s linked to the aircraft and Davis Monthan.
Before finishing her statement, Hubbard had something to say to the political and business community in attendance.
“You don’t care about children being disturbed in the classroom?” Hubbard said while looking at Barber and others. “I have seen a lot of corporate whores here tonight…you’re disgusting.”
Correction: TW originally reported “If the AFRC chose the National Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Dallas/Ft. Worth, only six to eight residential acres would be impacted, affecting 104 residents of the area, according to the EIS.” The data was for Homestead AFB in Florida, not NAS in Dallas/Ft. Worth. We regret the error and updated the article to reflect the correct information.
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2020.
The liberals will destroy jobs and eliminate Davis Monthan so we can all chase unicorns and butterflies. Don’t let them.
THT, you assume these are all liberals. They are not. Political leaning has nothing to do with some people just being complainers over anything and everything. CapAmerica complains every single day on the political cartoon, often several times a day, and he’s most certainly not a liberal. BTW, I’m a liberal and live 150 yards from the S Wilmot gate into the Boneyard. I don’t complain about them.
I didn’t say all liberals, I said the liberals. Others believe that freedom has a price, and this is a small price to pay when the military puts their lives on the line for us.
When the price of freedom exceeds half the national budget, this liberal feels the price is so high that he starts losing the freedom to his pursuit of happiness…
So your freedom is entrenched in government spending as long as they spend it on what you want? No wonder you may want to change election laws. You can’t lose and then dictate policy. Unless you can devise an impeachment scam. But once again in the minority. Some people will stop at nothing to gain power. looking back Obama was sure treated well. And sorry but that opinion doesn’t beg you to call me a racist. Why can’t we all get along?
@Quaking You might want to check your math.
Major categories of FY 2017 spending included: Healthcare such as Medicare and Medicaid ($1,077B or 27% of spending), Social Security ($939B or 24%), non-defense discretionary spending used to run federal Departments and Agencies ($610B or 15%), Defense Department ($590B or 15%), and interest ($263B or 7%).
27 and 24 is 51%. You’re welcome.
In 2019 Mandatory and Discretionary spending was 23%. We are still over spending to rebuild what the last administration cut so they could pass ACA. And by the way, price an affordable health plan if you are above the poverty level.
When I was in the U.S. Army stationed in South Korea, my quarters were located on a former U.S. Air Force Base called K2 that had been turned over to the South Korean Air Force many years ago.
Every day the jets took off using full afterburners, racing into the sky knowing that their enemy was only minutes away and creating a deafening roar that quickly faded away like the rolling sound of thunder during a welcome rainstorm in the desert.
Perhaps it is the distance from our enemies and the fact that only a small handful of us feel the need to serve in our military, to defend our own nation and to help protect our allies around the world, that allows many American to forget the sacrifices and threats we face, both near and far.
If I must have my day — or night for that matter — disturbed by the sound of American planes flying overhead, I am thankful in the knowledge that we live in a nation where there are still people willing to put their lives in harms way to protect the freedom of others to voice their complaints about the “noise” in the skies above.
TonyZ, a note: SS is not part of the general fund. It does not add one single cent to the deficit or debt. It is a separate retirement insurance program fully funded by workers. Don’t confuse it with the budget. Medicare is also mostly paid for by a separate fund. So, check your math again.
I pay taxes.
Like where I live.
I believe we should have a strong military.
I believe my wife and I deserve a strong quality of life in our chosen neighborhood.
We worked hard all our lives, never missed a chance to vote, and never will.
I love this country.
I don’t complain about the other planes and jets that do flyover exercises near my home.
I wish no ill will on the military personnel here, or on the economy of Tucson.
Sadly, I have suffered from migraines all my life.
The F-35s are detrimental to my health and that of others in this flyover area. Stress, anxiety, depression, and yes physical pain is part of it. Quality of life becomes a big and serious issue, and I am not likely to move at this late point in life. Most likely my next move will be in a hearse. I’ve worked for, paid for and earned a particular quality of life in my chosen location and it is important to me that I maintain that. I was here before the F-35s. I believe this is an issue that eclipses a liberal or conservative bias.