Locals Complain About F-35 Noise at MCAS Beaufort
The new F-35B Joint Strike Fighter jets were designed to take the place of the Marine Corp's aging AV-8B Harrier fleet. Like the AV-8B, The F-35B is designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings (STVOL). They were built for range, maneuverability, stealth, and of course, speed, and will play an integral role in air-to-ground combat.
Military and civilian officials are currently deciding how the F-35 squadrons will be split up between MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, and the air station here in Beaufort. Depending on the final decision, MCAS Beaufort could see as many as 176 F-35s between active duty and pilot training squadrons, or as little as 40.
Beaufort isn't your typical military town filled with nothing but high and tights, strip bars, and pawn shops. It has a long history, and takes great pride in its antebellum homes and its role in the Civil War. Naval Air Station Beaufort was built in the 1940s, but was changed to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in 1960.
In Beaufort, many civilians are less concerned about where their safety and freedom come from, and are more worried about noise control and preserving their beloved town. Many of the residents filing noise complaints went ahead and purchased homes in the approach corridor of a long-established air station. Understandably, residents and Beaufort town officials would want to be involved in the decision about F-35s coming to town, but honestly, they should have little to no say in the final decision unless something blatantly hazardous was at stake.
As a former Marine air traffic controller, I remember hearing about, and sometimes taking the calls of hysterical residents filing noise complaints. Often, these people lived in affluent neighborhoods and simply couldn't be bothered with the noise. I've never understood this type of mentality. After 9-11, I was sure the volume of noise complaints would drop, but that wasn't the case. My husband is still a controller on active duty, so I hear stories from him all the time.
According to the U.S. Marine Corps Joint Strike Fighter F-35B East Coast Basing Environmental Impact Statement, the old AV-8s will be replaced over the next ten or more years. The training squadrons would be established first, and the first active duty squadrons would be established between 2016 and 2018. Reserve squadrons wouldn't be set up until 2023.
At least this will give the Beaufort residents with sensitive ears plenty of time to pack up and move to a different area, or country for that matter. To quote one of my favorite Marine Corps Air Station front gate signs, "Pardon our noise, it's the sound of freedom!"
I bet on 9-11, if those airplanes came crashing down onto a residential area in Beaufort instead of the World Trade Center far, far away in NYC, residents would be more welcoming of the new F-35 squadrons, and whatever noise they bring. Maybe then, locals would take time out to think about how many Marines, including MCAS Beaufort Marines, have died while protecting their freedom.
Source:
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Marine-Corps-Air-Station-Beaufort
Published by Alicia White
Alicia is a former air traffic controller who lived in Japan for several years. She's currently a freelance writer in California, and a full-time student majoring in digital media/graphic design. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a Comment"Understandably, residents and Beaufort town officials would want to be involved in the decision about F-35s coming to town, but honestly, they should have little to no say in the final decision"
WTF?
Excellent article Mrs. White. Thank you and your husband for your fine service. My husband and I are both veterans too. The problem with being part of this great constitutional republic is that it takes interactive participation from all citizens in time of war and peace. Unfortunately, there is an increasingly growing part of our society that is detached from the concept of national defense and citizen interaction unless it involves them directly and immediately. The fate of Oceana Naval Air Station was due to the shameful behavior of the citizens in that area. The same could happen here if we are not diligent and responsive to that same detached element in our own community. I know it is an old cliché, but freedom is never free, and as you mentioned in your article, some paid or will pay a more painful price than others.
The premise that any community should just "suck it up" because you are providing them freedom and liberty was the same one used by the British that forced the colonies to feed and board the British Army. Most cities and towns do not need a military installation anywhere near them to remain functional, it is the military that needs a city nearby to offer services to its members. If you want to build any type of community relationship then you should recognize the impacts of bringing in aircraft that are 2-3x louder than anything else in production. Ever have a barracks rat, or neighbor, that plays music you don't care for at excessive volume? Who was the problem - the one making the noise or the one that had to listen to it?
Has the thought ever occurred to those of you reading this that the burden of jet noise surrounding Fentress Field and Oceana could be a result of how many unborn babies have been aborted in this country!?
I'm a local and don't really know of any local folks complaining about the Air Station or the noise. Having been raised here it's common knowledge where you don't want to live unless you want a fighter jet buzzing your house.
The only people I hear b-itching are those who moved here and going to be b-itching about something, if not the noise this week, the trees next week.
I just tell them I-95 runs North and South, pick a direction.
Bring on the F-35's, the sooner the better!
Most of those who complain about the jet noise around Fentress Field and Oceana and demand sending the Navy jets to Beaufort, SC are nothing more than hypocrits who want to dump Hampton Roads, VA's problems on another community!!!
Great read!!
Those people need to get a grip! There are worse things that noise from a F-35 plane. Great article! I am an Army vet and I am very proud to have served in the Armed Forces.
I bet that is loud. My son was in the AF and the F-16's would just BOOM when they flew over.