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Letters to the Editor, October 3, 2009Tired of NAS jet noise
During September, residents of Guemes Island were subjected to jet-engine roar caused by Whidbey Naval Air Station aircraft, aptly named Prowlers and Growlers. Anacortes also gets this noise. The roaring interrupted sleep, drowned out conversations and interfered…
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Mr Henderson,
2. The sole cause of increased north-south oriented traffic was the temporary closure of the east-west runway for repairs, not partly as you suggest. The change was NOT as a result of Coupeville residents complaining. They’ve been complaining for years and the base has gone to great lengths to accommodate their concerns. Contrary to your belief, this was not achieved by directing the aircraft to your house instead. 3. There are set number of squadrons at NAS Whidbey Island. There is no magic switch that can be thrown so that when they all show up for work tomorrow they will have new airplanes to fly and all the Prowlers will be gone. It is a one for one deal. A squadron will relinquish its Prowler and then spend considerable time completing training (6-8 months). When that squadron is done the next one will start. 4. The mission that the Prowler is executing in two combat theaters is vital to the safety and survival of US and coalition personnel on the ground. Again, you can’t magically turn all the Prowlers into Growlers over night. While the process of upgrading marches on someone has to continue providing the service over seas. 5. To your question about why Prowler training continues to take place at Whidbey and not at another location - Where do you suggest that they move. The cost(ultimately paid by you)to move the remaining Prowler squadrons with their equipment and personnel and then move it all back here to train and operate the Growler would be astronomical. Your suggestion seems fairly short sighted and self serving. 6. Recently Naval Aviation found itself on the short end of a massive budgetary cut in the funding provided for flight hours. If you really paid attention this summer you would have actually noticed a DRASTIC reduction in Prowler and Growler flights due to the massive flight hour funding cuts. 7. I know nothing about fishing. I would not write a letter to the editor expressing opinions about how fishing is good for this, bad for that, et cetera because I don’t know anything fishing. I’m not comparing fishing to flying airplanes. I’ve simply used my ignorance of one to demonstrate yours of the other. Next time you would be well served by doing some of the proverbial homework. |
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