The Latest Military Airspace Grab: 700 Square Miles!

Mike Williamson wrote:
Blueskies wrote:
"Ed Rasimus" wrote in message
...


Airspace is airspace. There are no comments about anyone not
wanting our pilots to be properly trained. There should be
a big chunk set aside, say, out over the pacific or something, for
all the air to air training. They would be able to
turn and burn and go mach whatever without worrying too much (oh,
they do that already?). If the folks need to do the
air to ground work, there is already plenty of space out in Nevada
and Calif set aside for that. Why all the airspace
grabs these days?


There is less airspace used by the military than there used to be.
Airspace being released because the nearby base got closed doesn't
draw attention (although the closing itself usually does), while
opening new airspace at a different base which now has twice as
much training going on with a brand new mission to account for
because units moved from their previous (now closed) base gets
a lot of press. The result is the perception of more special
use airspace, even if the reality is that the amount is less.

As for putting all your training airspace over the Pacific, a
very large number of bases aren't anywhere near the ocean, or Nevada
for that matter. Those near the ocean typically do a fair amount of
training in Warning Areas in international airspace off the coast,
but then we have traffic conflicts if they are anywhere near the
major trans-oceanic hubs as well. Additionally, good training,
particularly for fighter/attack types, require a pretty good
proportion of clear weather, which makes New Mexico, Arizona,
etc., prime training grounds.

Mike

...and if an pilot gets into trouble, where would be rather end up? in
the ocean or on terra firma?
David