By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Every kid loves to see the airplanes flying by, and it looks like they may be seeing a lot more of them soon. The military has selected most of Medina County and parts of Uvalde, Frio, and Bandera Counties as a prime area to conduct “low-altitude” flight training with a floor of 500 feet above ground level.
They recently proposed this plan, and are assessing noise and environmental impacts and accepting public comment.
Some retired Airforce pilots we know are looking forward to the sights and sounds, pointing out that “noise” can also be called “the sound of freedom.”
Currently, this type of low-altitude tactical pilot training is done in airspace above the Brady, TX area. The purpose of the new site is to obtain new lower-altitude airspace with less restrictions, more flexibility, and also in closer proximity to pilots at Randolph Airforce Base.
According to documents, “None of the training activities would involve the release of live or inert ammunition or ordnance (including defensive countermeasures such as chaff and flares). Aircraft would not be operated at supersonic speeds within the proposed airspace.”
However, this airspace would be used for simulating attacks such as air-to-air combat against enemy aircraft as well as simulated attacks on ground-based targets.
This airspace would also be used for training tasks such as gaining familiarity with aircraft handling, maneuvering, terrain avoidance, tactical navigation, and tactical formation, according to documents.
They will be flying T-38s, and activity would not be continuous, but it could occur at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. Approximately 16 proposed sorties would occur between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., representing approximately 0.5 percent of the total sorties. Use of the low airspace after 10:00 p.m. is not anticipated often, if ever.
“We anticipate using the CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com
It takes less than 5 minutes, and members get INSTANT digital access as well as the print edition mailed to your home every weeks so you can KEEP UP with IMPORTANT community news like this!
