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Friday, February 3, 2006

Air Guard Flyover Questioned

The Associated Press
    The leader of the New Mexico National Guard has ordered an investigation into a flyover by four F-16 fighter planes for the opening of a Roswell auto dealership.
    Brig. Gen. Kenny Montoya authorized the flyover for the day before Veterans Day after being asked by Rep. Dan Foley, R-Roswell. Montoya acknowledged this week that he should have looked closer at the request.
    "You have to believe in me that I'm not going to let anybody abuse our system. We'll look at this. I owe it to the people," Montoya told Albuquerque television station KRQE.
    Military flyovers are regulated by Department of Defense guidelines. Events that would qualify for a flyover include those directly related to a patriotic holiday such as Veterans Day, not the opening of an auto dealership or even the Marine Corps' birthday.
    Foley said he was not aware of the guidelines when he made the request.
    "The request was to have a flyover of the proceedings that were being done there in Roswell for the combination of the grand opening (of the dealership) and the Marine Corps' birthday celebration," Foley said.
    The grand opening was the day before Veterans Day. There were a marching band, cheerleaders, food and the four fighter planes that had flown from Albuquerque to Roswell. KRQE reported that the flight cost tens of thousands of dollars.
    Montoya contends that he was told it would be a Veterans Day celebration for the community of Roswell, which the general described as a very patriotic community.
    If he had known it was a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Montoya said he would not have approved the flyover.
    All flyovers are supposed to be requested in writing, but KRQE reported that the Roswell flyover was not. The station also reported that Montoya did not notify Air Force officials.



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