The Air Force has just released the draft environmental assessment of its plan to expand the National Air Guard training program that brings U.S. and foreign jets to Tucson. It is asking for public comments by Sept. 14. Unfortunately, the Air Force has refused to hold public meetings.
The expansion of Operation Snowbird, based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, would increase the number of flights from 1,190 to 2,256 a year. Night training flights would be allowed. Strangely, the assessment (which can be found in PDF form at www.dm.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120730-035.pdf) concludes that the expansion will have no significant impact on the surrounding community.
The fundamental deficiency of the assessment is its failure to explain how the total number of Operation Snowbird flights can be almost doubled and yet have no significant effect on the surrounding human environment. Residents who live under the current Snowbird flight paths, as well as simple common sense, tell us this can’t be true.
The answer lies in the selectivity and presentation of data in the assessment. For example, it notes that under the current program, a disproportionate number of minority/low-income populations adjacent to the base on the northwest are already seriously affected by noise. This involves some 826 homes and 134 multifamily complexes. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Air Force both consider such areas as “incompatible with residential use.” The assessment then says that an expanded Operation Snowbird will add only 20 more homes to the impacted area. It, therefore, concludes that the noise effect from the expansion will be slight. There is no discussion of the effects of doubling the number of flights on this already impacted group of residents. Also, the expansion appears to run counter to economic-justice legislation, yet that is not discussed in the draft environmental assessment.
The assessment seriously understates the number of residents impacted by noise. There is no discussion of Operation Snowbird flight patterns over the city, which involve two half-circles, several miles apart, over residential neighborhoods northwest of D-M. For example, a noise chart prepared by D-M for the Military Community Relations Committee shows that an F-18 or a Harrier approaching D-M over the Broadmoor-Broadway Village neighborhood (left out of the assessment) will be four times louder than an A-10. To claim, as the assessment does, that this aircraft noise will be “insignificant” is simply not credible.
The assessment’s noise analysis leaves out the noisiest Snowbird aircraft: the F-18s, Harriers and F-22s. It is based on a 2007 noise study which the public has never seen.
The safety analysis is based on a table developed by D-M listing the risk factors for Operation Snowbird aircraft. Neither the methodology nor the calculations are provided for public review. It is not evident that the risk factor captures the full picture of the aircraft-safety record. The table also leaves out data on the F-18. One crashed three years ago in a San Diego neighborhood, killing four; another crashed recently into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach, Va. Both the Osprey and F-22 are also left out. An Osprey crashed in Marana in 2000, killing 19 Marines, and F-22 pilots have refused to fly for safety reasons. The only foreign aircraft included is the Tornado, leaving out data on the Mirage, Typhoon, Kfir and Rafale.
The economic analysis is given short shrift. Tucson’s premier economic engine is tourism. The assessment notes that there was concern expressed at public meetings about the effect on tourism of an expanded Operation Snowbird. However, the assessment states the costs would be difficult to quantify, so it simply ignores the issue. It then draws the completely unsupported conclusion that the expanded Snowbird program would have negligible adverse impacts.
Contrary to the assessment, expanding air operations over densely populated urban Tucson will impact large numbers of residents in terms of safety, noise and social justice. It will also impede future development, as well as the quality of life needed to attract high-tech, bioscience businesses to the city.
Please write the Air Force before Sept. 14 and request a full, objective environmental impact statement. The address is: Attn: OSB EA Comment Submittal, 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 3180 S. First St., Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ 85707.
Robin Gomez is a member of Tucson Forward Inc.
This article appears in Aug 16-22, 2012.
Robin Gomez:
Sorry, but you lost me in your first sentence. I am still trying to identify the “National Air Guard” you mention.
The noise impacts on 17 (read it.. SEVENTEEN) maximum residences will not be significant. Perhaps you should petition the Mayor and Council to ban the use of sirens on police, fire, and medical vehicles. THAT should help you to sleep better.
While the pilots and support crews are here “on business”, they tend to eat and relax in their off-hours. I am sure you can make up the difference in local business impact (if OSB is reduced or eliminated) by going out and eating, yourself.
To summarize, I support the efforts to maintain, and even expand, the Operation Snowbird programs at Davis-Monthan AFB. The base has been an integral part of Tucson for over 80 years, and is a major component of the local economy.
John Holden
(30+ year resident under the NW flight path to/from DMAFB)
Bill, I respect your opinion, but the question is the adequacy of the Operation Snowbird Draft Environmental Assessment and whether a more professional Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be done. Upon reading the document carefully, you find that the noise study upon which the minimal number of residences results leaves out the loudest aircraft…the F-22, F-18s, Harriers, and the helicopters. Garbage in, garbage out. It defies common sense that the Air Force can double the number of Operation Snowbird flights, introduce night flights and there will be a minimal impact on the residents.
The economic impact on Tucson from Operation Snowbird is minimal…in the area of $133,000 annually which is small in comparison to loss of revenue from tourism and lost tax revenue from diminished assessed value. Not many visitors want to come to Tucson to listen to F-18s and F-22s fly over the pool.
Oops! Sorry, John,…. not Bill
I live at Broadway and Craycroft. I hear far more noise from TPD helicopters and the musical stylings of the traffic passing by than I do from DMAFB. Increase the number sorties to hearts content. I know many winter visitors and rent to several of them. A large portion are retired military and love the base, bone yard, Titan and Pima Museums. The writers thesis is flawed in her proposed effect of tourism degradation. If you wish the military out of Tucson then state your position but don’t pussy foot around with tourism. I don’t remember the last tourist that asked for commodations near 29th and Wilmot.
Moyla75, it is the folks that live near 29th and Alvernon that probably get the most noise. They are in/or near an area that FAA deems to be “incompatible with residential use”. The planes upon landing are about 500′ above ground. You probably get very little noise where you are. I can understand why you aren’t concerned. The flightpath circles around and descends over several neighborhoods and part of Reid Park. The Double Tree, Botanical Garden, Arizona Inn, Sam Hughes B & B are only a few tourist related businesses that could be impacted with an increase in Operation Snowbird flights. The F-22 and F-18 can get up to 116 dB-120 dB. Many of the homes and businesses were there before there was a runway for jets at D-M (It was built in 1953).
Referring to the author of the Guest Opinion? I think he is a veteran and certainly doesn’t want the military out of Tucson.
My name is Gary Ashberger, and I live under the flight path of Tucson International Airport where the Air National Guard flies. I have lived here for 40 years, and I can certainly agree with Robin that the negative impact of military aircraft flying over residential areas is very real. How could the Air Force say that doubling Operation Snowbird flights over Tucson carries a minimal impact? This just doesn’t make sense. In addition, the cavalier attitude with which the EIS was done basically undermines the relationship between the Air Force and the community. No public meetings? This by itself is patently absurd. It just shows basic lack of respect. It’s a way of saying “well, this is how it’s going to be, take it or leave Tucson”. Lack of due process has been an issue throughout both the TIA and D-M discussions, and needs to end. There is no room for this macho attitude in the discussion. It is my sincere hope that this expansion can somehow be defeated, and as well the basing of yet different, loud aircraft at both D-M and TIA with little or no community oversight.
Gary H. Ashberger, 40 year resident and concerned citizen
I did the math. That means a little over six flights more each day. I don’t grasp how this is such a significant impact. I would also point out that “night flights” don’t mean they fly when the ten o’clock news is on. That means they take off at some point after official sunset. That’s pretty early in the winter.
05Worth, your definition of “night flights” is different from what the Operation Snowbird EA says. The Air Force says from “2200 and 0700 (i.e. nightime)” or from 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. Now do the math when one flight is a F-18 at 116 dB or a F-22 at 121 dB. The AF also says in the EA that 120 dB can cause pain.
Owning a house to the northwest of DM, I can tell you that the adverse impact is already very great. Doubling flights and night flights does not make any sense at all. Why are there no public meetings? Likely due to significant public opposition. I believe that the loudest of the planes (such as F18, F22 and Harriers) were left out of the current assessment to help “massage” the data. A full Environmental Impact study should be done so such manipulations are discouraged, and the issue is looked at in an objective way. This is America, not some dictatorial political system, right?
I live and work under the flight path. I know how I feel every time a screaming jet flies over head. Not only is it loud, my 1927 house shakes and windows rattle and it takes me awhile to calm my body down. What kind of impact is this extra noise going to have on the children in the schools, day cares and in their homes. The special needs children I work with are hyper sensitive to sound and have total melt downs when a jet flies over our office quickly ending their therapy.
As I type this right now I have 4 very loud, very low flying jets over my house.
Third generation Tucson native
Bravo to Robin Gomez, who has obviously studied the EA regarding the planned increase in the size and scope of DM’s training exercises and understands the potential impact to all our lives. And no praise to the knee jerk responses from people who seem to assume that anything the Air Force proposes must be a good thing without taking the time to “read the facts”. The EA is faulty and full of holes and the demand for a full Environmental Impact Study is reasonable, intelligent & the right of every citizen. We should all be thankful that someone cares enough to boil the facts down for public consumption. Read the document first and then decide if it’s OK for the Air Force to run rough shod over the lives of all who suffer under its current training program and understand what “doubling” the training plan will mean to our future. People who don’t live directly under the current flight path erroneously assume that the Air Force can do no harm. It can and it has and it will continue to do so unless enough good people question its motives and protest being taken for granted. The Air Force is supposed to work for the people and not for its own selfish interests.
I live in the flight path northwest of DM AFB, smack dab in the beginning of the flight path, so they are very, very loud, and low on take off and landing. I agree with Robin’s article. This EA is very flawed, misleading, much information is not included as to types of aircraft they want to bring in, and how many. The F-16’s that take off scare you to death, two at a time, and the new jets will be much louder than that; I can’t even imagine what will happen to us. Even now, we are significantly impacted by what is presently flying; I cannot understand how they can be flying some of the aircraft they fly when they have not been approved to fly here, that is why this EA is being done; so why are they doing an EA at all, they will need to do an EIS, and that too will be full of jargon that one cannot understand, and information that is misleading. An F-22 flew in in March this year, one person thought we were having an earthquake, another thought their roof was going to cave in from the awful noise made on their roof. Have you ever heard an F-22? I have. And it is said that the F-22 is similar to the noise of the F-35, but the F-35 is even louder. Luke AFB will be getting the F-35; but Tucson is still in danger of even having some F-35s come to TIA and to DM as Operation Snowbird if they decide to do this down the road. The EA is not in Spanish, we have a great number of people who need this in Spanish. There are no meetings for people to go to. How this EA can say that their finding is a Finding of No Significant Impact is beyond me, when they admit even now that there is a significant impact in the area northwest of DM AFB. Impact is significant even now.
OK, I’ll say it…It is not just the noise. It is the constant reminder that our country has the largest military budget and military presence in the world. It amazes me that some few will rationalize this by the money spilled around the edges into the communities that “host” military bases. It angers me that our political process in my congressional district is held hostage by votes generated by the presence of two military bases and Homeland Insecurity. BRAC suggested the air base was unnecessary and should be closed. Why is it still open?
I, too, live in the flight path, right by Reid Park. Those airplanes are absolutely deafening. Most of the time, it doesn’t really bother me, as I work a standard shift and am often out of the house during their main flight time. The lack of night flights is the ONLY thing that makes my neighborhood habitable. If those things start coming over at night, I’ll have to attempt to sell my house (and good luck to me– has anybody considered what this brilliant plan will do to property values in the flight path?).