The Air Force has released its draft environmental assessment for the replacement of the Hawaii Air National Guard’s F-15s with F-22s with a finding of “no significant impact.” The EA, which is available online here (caution: large file), took into account, among a number of differences in operations, the fact that F-22 engines “are more powerful and louder than F-15 engines,” but ANG officials worked with the FAA to develop a landing approach to the joint military-commercial airfield that minimizes noise impacts off base. “There would be essentially no discernible change in off-base noise associated with the replacement of F-15s with F-22As,” states the summary of findings.
As Hurricane Melissa hammers the Caribbean, the U.S. Air Force’s “Hurricane Hunters” are busy flying into the massive Category 4 storm to collect atmospheric data—with one experiencing greater than expected turbulence Oct. 28.
