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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Environmental Assessment Planned for F-22s at Holloman


Associated Press
      The Air Force plans to study potential environmental consequences of deploying F-22A fighter airplanes at Holloman Air Force Base.
    The Raptors would replace the Air Force's F-117A Nighthawks at Holloman, where all of those stealth fighters are stationed.
    President Bush proposed in February that the Nighthawks be phased out by fiscal 2008.
    "I will take the Air Force's prompt action for an environmental assessment as good news because it means plans are under way to clear a path for the F-22s to be assigned to Holloman,'' Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said Monday
    F-22As currently are based at Langley Air Force Base, Va., while Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is to get the Air Force's second batch of Raptors.
    The Air Force prefers Holloman for the third operational wing, consisting of two squadrons of 18 Raptors each. Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, would be the fourth site for the F-22As.
    "We have been pressing the Pentagon to make a seamless transition from the F-117s to the Raptor,'' said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. "I'm encouraged that the Pentagon is making the necessary steps to make that possible.''
    Environmental assessments usually take six to nine months to complete.
    "I don't foresee any problems with this process, and look forward to its successful conclusion, Domenici said.
    The Air Force plans three meetings for public input to help identify environmental issues and determine the scope of the assessment. The Air Force also is to provide additional information on mothballing the F-117A airplanes.
    The meetings are scheduled for April 17 in Ruidoso, April 18 in Truth or Consequences and April 19 in Alamogordo.
    The F-117, designed in the 1960s, first flew in 1981. Once the premier low-observable aircraft, it has been surpassed by newer, more efficient airplanes such as the F-22A.
    The F-22A program calls for 183 airplanes, with production slated through 2012, the Air Force said.
    The Raptor has stealth and supersonic capabilities and is equipped with the latest avionics and weapons systems. It is suited for air to air and air to ground combat missions.
    The F-22 became operational, or available for use on combat missions, in December.

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