Western Low-Fly Zones: Not in My Sky
The Air Force is looking for places in the American West where pilots can practice flying special operations missions over terrain similar to the rugged mountains of Afghanistan. One proposal would call for a new Low Altitude Tactical Navigation area straddling the border of Colorado and New Mexico…
The Air Force is looking for places in the American West where pilots can practice flying special operations missions over terrain similar to the rugged mountains of Afghanistan. One proposal would call for a new Low Altitude Tactical Navigation area straddling the border of Colorado and New Mexico.
Local citizens worried about noise and disturbance have objected to the plan, however, according to the Wall Street Journal, and action groups have sprung up to oppose it. The proposed flights of C-130s and CV-22 Ospreys would be out of Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, and would be mostly at night.
Similar concerns have been raised about planned low-flying exercises in Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota. Says one rancher: "“I would never wish on anybody the noise impact that comes from a B-1 bomber flying over at Mach One."