Col. Mark
Weatherington |
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RESPONSE
We do in fact have quiet hour procedures that limit our flying and maintenance operations between midnight and 0600. However the policy does not prohibit all operations blindly as you suggest, without regard for aircrew training and the requirement to maintain a ready fleet of aircraft, nor is it being ignored.
Ellsworth Air Force Base Instruction 11-250 defines our local airfield operations and allows certain practice approaches, landings and other training requirements during quiet hours to ensure the readiness of our flyers. Many of the operations they conduct overseas occur at night, and night operations are very different and often more challenging than operations conducted in daylight.
Air Force Instruction 21-101 governs maintenance engine runs. Engine runs above idle settings for aircraft not in the flying schedule require Maintenance Group Commander approval. The 28th Maintenance Group makes every effort to maintain quiet hours, however aircraft readiness and mission capability sometimes demand engine runs during early morning hours. These activities allow us to generate the needed aircraft for training as well as combat missions, such as the Odyssey Dawn launches last March.
We will continue to limit activity during quiet hours to mission essential needs. Though you may still hear jet noise in the early morning hours, I hope you can sleep more soundly tonight knowing that these operations are absolutely necessary to guarantee the safety of our flyers and the security of this great Nation.
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