For as long as most of us can remember, watching F-16 contrails or hearing the roar of an A-10 Warthog overhead has been a tradition in the Upper Thumb. The sight of these combat aircraft flying to the training area over the lake is a reminder of the Air National Guard members honing their skills in our skies. But a proposal to switch to low altitude combat training could change everything we’re used to. Instead of the occasional flyover, we could be seeing and hearing these aircraft up to five days a week, with additional flights on weekends and nighttime hours.
The Alpena Airspace Proposal is being considered by the Air National Guard, and it would increase the number of combat aircraft flights and expand the training area. This change would impact northern Michigan and the Upper Thumb, dropping the altitude flying deck to just 500 feet over land and 100 feet over water. The aircraft will also change, with the A-10 Thunderbolts being supplemented by the classic F-16 and the new F-35 fighter bombers, both of which can fly supersonic and break the sound barrier.
This is a significant change for the Thumb area, which has supported the Air National Guard for about 50 years. The proposed change will literally take place over our heads, impacting the character of our region. The airspace modifications would include new Military Operations Areas (MOAs) at low and medium altitudes over parts of Otsego and Crawford counties, an increased ceiling at Camp Grayling, and new low-altitude MOAs over portions of Tuscola, Sanilac, and all of Huron County.
A group of concerned citizens has formed the Huron County Quiet Skies Coalition in response to this proposal. They have attended every meeting on the subject and contacted just about everyone they can think of to let people know what exactly is going on. They are not against the military, but they believe that the intensity and frequency of the proposed flights will degrade the ambiance of the county, disrupt agricultural operations, and pose health risks to residents, cottage owners, and vacationers.
The impact of becoming a low-level Military Operations Area is significant. The proposal would expand the current MOA over Lake Huron to cover all of Huron and much of Tuscola and Sanilac Counties. Combat training, including climbing, diving, turning, and multiple passes over the same location, will become the new norm.
The primary users of the Grayling Temporary MOA would conduct exercises with A-10, F-16, and F-35 aircraft. Transient users may conduct exercises with a wide variety of both fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft. In an environmental impact statement of the Grayling Temporary MOA, it was outlined that there would be approximately 20 sorties per day on average, with a maximum of 50 sorties on any given day.
If you’re concerned about this proposal, there are steps you can take. Visit the Huron Quiet Skies Coalition site and take their survey, become informed about the proposal, contact representatives and government officials, attend meetings of the County Board of Commissioners, Chambers of Commerce, and village and township meetings, and spread the word to your friends and acquaintances. A public comment period on the proposal is estimated to start in August and run through October 2019.
In summary, the Alpena Airspace Proposal could bring significant changes to the Upper Thumb region. While the sight and sound of military aircraft have been a long-standing tradition, the proposed increase in frequency and decrease in altitude could impact the character and ambiance of our region. The Huron County Quiet Skies Coalition is working to raise awareness and voice concerns about these changes. As residents and visitors of the greater Thumb Area, it’s important for us to stay informed and engaged in this issue.
#UpperThumb #AirNationalGuard
See the original post at [Thumb Airspace Could See Low Altitude Combat Training](https://thumbwind.com/2019/07/19/low-altitude-combat-training-over-thumb/).
