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Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Kirtland Seeking Comments in Proposal
By Charles D. Brunt
Journal Staff Writer
Residents have until Nov. 3 to comment on a draft environmental assessment for a plan to increase the number of C-130 transport flights at Kirtland Air Force Base.
The draft environmental assessment, developed by the Air Force and released this month, concludes that replacing the 58th Special Operations Wing's eight C-130s with 12 newer MC-130J Super Hercules airplanes — and adding up to 528 training flights per year — would have "less than significant" impacts on the environment.
Comments can be submitted only via e-mail to nepa@kirtland.af.mil by Nov. 3, base spokeswoman Marie Vanover said Tuesday.
The transition from the wing's HC/MC-130N/P aircraft to the new MC-130Js is needed, Air Force officials say, to replace aging aircraft and to train additional air crews.
If implemented, the proposal, which includes acquiring three new flight simulators, would be phased in over the next 13 years.
The four-turboprop MC-130J is used primarily for aerial refueling of CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and helicopters, and for cargo drops. The planes are almost 98 feet long, have a wingspan of just more than 132 feet and are more than 38 feet tall. Their top speed is about 375 mph.
The proposal would increase the number of flights along existing military training routes, landing zones and drop zones currently used by the 58th Special Operations Wing. The wing's primary mission is training special operations and combat search and rescue crews.
The complete draft environmental assessment and related documents are available online at www.kirtland.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-101001-041.pdf.
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