Letter to the Editor
Noise complaints
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008
May 2, 2008
To the editor:
I cannot believe people are whining about the noise made by the jets training at Eielson Air Force Base. Didn’t we just all band together to save Eielson from the chopping block?
Are there also going to be complaints about the soldiers firing at the ranges on the south side of the Richardson Highway? These are the sounds of freedom! If you don’t like it, there are plenty of countries you can move to where they will tell you what you can listen to.
And those worried about property values will get a rude awakening if Eielson and its billions of dollars to the community ever go away.
For those who have fought for it, freedom has a special meaning that the protected will never know.
Community Discussion
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hmmm....
I have fought for it....but that doesn't mean I want jets going sonic over my house.
I do believe that Ft WW is the largest 'fort' in the Army inventory - with just shy of 1,000,000 acres. Isn't that enough room to train on - at least supersonically?
Because people want a little peace and quiet doesn't make them poor citizens...Alaska is full of empty space - more than enough room to go supersonic over places more remote than two rivers.
I like hearing the rifle fire and planes go over - but that doesn't mean everyone does - - - I love my country and my flag - but I choose not to shove it in someone's face over something as trivial as this
Ralph,
I am glad to see you are another one of those people who feel free to voice their opinion, but when others voice a different opinion, you tell them to leave (the country in this case). This country was founded on dissent, so you should show a little more tolerance for it.
well said, husky
I live out here in Two Rivers and those sonic booms are extremely loud. They rattle the windows on our house and terrify our livestock. When one of our windows cracks, who pays for the damage? It's not fair that we should have to, especially when you take into account the fact that Alaska has remote areas more suited to that kind of training.
My disgust has nothing to do with my support of the military and it's ridiculous to suggest that my concern over property damage means I'm anti-military. I'm quite certain that if Mr. Moore had to shell out money out of his own pocket to pay for damages done to his home, he would be singing a different tune. Live in our neck of the woods sir, and experience first hand the effects of those sonic booms. I don't care who is responsible for the cause, military or non-military. I'd just like to see a little more respect shown to the folks who live down below when those jets fly over.
A little tolerance for the noise of the jets at Eielson would be nice too...
McGehee, there is a huge difference between tolerance of noise, and paying for damages done as a result of that noise.
Come on and get over it. The cost of freedom isn't free. I personally love the sound of jets booming overhead. Too me it doesn't happen enough. Go Air Force and thank you for the outstanding job you do.
Ramster21,
Can people send you the bills to repair property damage as a result of military activities?
I'd like to see a little tolerance for peace and quiet.
AKhusky...please describe what instances of "property damage as a result of military activities" means. Please provide some specific instances of what damage was caused, when and how.
Its funny that when I was in the military we fought for the freedoms we all enjoy -
However, I guess to the writer, freedom of speech wasn't one of them
Move out of the country for an opinion! - hah!
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Ramster - I like the sound of my old motorcycle (it was a hog)...was loud and proud....
So - - since I like that sound does it make it right for me to sit at your curbside and rev the engine whenever I feel the need.....
common sense fella! Just cause you like it doesn't make it ok!
Don't bother answereing that Akhusky, I will. Stop by my house oldakcuss and I'll show you a cracked window. You want more proof? Come to my house when the jets are flying over. It's sure to be an eye opener.
I'll leave this dicussion to the rest of you to hash out. I need to leave for work. Someone has to pay the damages.......
It's not noise from the military here on my little spot in North Pole, I would like see cease and desist. It's my next door neighbor who, for some odd reason fires large fireworks at 2:00 AM in the morning. Now this isn't just an odd now and then but quite often. Is there a law against disturbing the peace in residential neighborhoods? I know for a fact it's got nothing to do with defense of this country. I think it is because he is just a jerk.
Dinkick...sorry about your cracked window...did you file an insurance claim?
I guess my point is...we never seem to hear about all of this "damage" until the noise topic comes up. If all of this "damage" is truly taking place and is caused by the military, there would be news stories, television coverage and the military would be actively involved in finding a solution. In case you haven't noticed, the military is VERY sensitive to being good neighbors in communities where there is a military presence. They are very concerned about the impact they have on neighboring communities. I think we've just got a bunch of whiners who like to blame others for their own problems.
There seems to be a new attitude developing that suggests that, when the general public disapproves of something the military does, it's anti-patriotism. How totally ridiculous!! What a narrow-minded way to view life.......
"They are very concerned about the impact they have on neighboring communities."
I question the truth of this statement. The noise complaint hotline is just a feel good measure so the Air Force can say it is addressing the issue. If it really was concerned, it wouldn't be creating sonic booms over settled areas. As is is, the Air Force says it investigated all complaints, and that only two violated regulations.
Regarding property damage, people posting comments in the Newsminer have reported cracked windows, cracked windshields, and items falling off shelves and breaking. People filing insurance claims risk having their premiums increased, and of couse the insurance companies could claim that property was not covered for damage by sonic booms. And good luck trying to get reimbursed by thge Air Force. If people don't get stopped at the door, they will get drowned in red tape.
I live somewhere now where there are no jets flying overhead.
I miss them. Never before have I heard anyone complain about the military jets in Fairbanks, most people think they are super cool.
Have they changed their routes lately to bother a new group of people?
Or are people just finally deciding that they don't like it anymore?
Better the sound of our jets breaking a sound barrier then the sound of their high jacked jets blowing up our people. Never forget 911
To underline the point, I am going to echo AKhusky, akguy and Dinjick.
There is nothing unpatriotic wrong about Americans voicing concerns or criticisms of the U.S. military. To do so honestly is about as American as you can get. To tell someone to leave the country because they don't agree with you is not in keeping with the values of this country
Suck it up. I live on Eielson and have to deal with the jets every day. It's a part of life if you live anywhere in the vicinity of Eielson. If you don't like it, pack it up and move.
suomi was there a point to that statement? Sonic Booms now deter terrorism?
Nice comment Evans......
Seems that you haven't even attempted to understand the spirit behind the comments above and I commend you on your unwavering superiority
I have a feeling if you live on Eielson - either you or yours has CHOSEN to serve in the military....a choice the local homeowners are not given when the Fighter Jocks pick some arbitrary spot to go supersonic...
A member of the Air Force has to live with it every day.....Believe me if you had to listen to my work phone ringing for a few hours a night you would be just as irritated. Point being, you enlisted into the Air Force, you weren't drafted, you joined voluntarily. You listen to jets, I listen to phones. I don't expect you to listen to my phone.
Just like you have "chosen" to live near an air force base. You "voluntarily" chose to live near Eielson and the jets are a part of life around here.
It;s not just the noise. Aircraft have been known to crash once in a while. What happens when one of these Air Force jets crashes into the city? How many people will be killed because the Air Force had to train over the largest city in the interior instead of the tens of thousands of unsettled wilderness?
The noise is no more annoying (to me) than the shooting that goes on all the time. I wish it would stop, but don't really care. It is a sign, though, of a far more dangerous problem.
I can see that this is pointless and people around here have nothing else to do than complain about everything.
Let these people whine. It just shows their ignorance. These same people will manufacture some other "injustice" to complain about, when this training is over. I doubt they have anyone close to them actually in the military, so don't see the importance of military training.
Thank you Blazer. How many times a year do they actually hear the "sonic boom"?? lol
Would not want to endanger the wolves Henry.
So with all of these noise complants maybe it should have been save Galena instead of save Eielson. That way they could move all the Red Flag exercises there and then the community would lose on the hundreds of thousands of dollars the visiting units bring to the local economy when they visit. Then there would be no noise at all from Eielson, no jobs on base, and no money from the airman.
Once again: hesusuallyright.
Just another instance of someone yelling "unpatriotic" because people are questioning something the government/military is doing.
It's getting so old.
would you like a little cheese with that whine?
that's getting old, too.
I find that the neighbors truck with the missing exhaust, and the Harley riders who insist on removing any kind of noise reduction systems previously installed on their bikes to eek out that extra tenth of a horse power, much more aggravating than the jets that are protecting our skies...
Who knows, maybe the reason for flying close to town is that the Air Force is doing their part to conserve fuel by not flying so far away to "open it up", ever think of that?
It's all part of being a greener military!
i agree with you clearh2o. motorcycles are the most obnoxious machines ever invented by man.
"Who knows, maybe the reason for flying close to town is that the Air Force is doing their part to conserve fuel by not flying so far away to "open it up", ever think of that?
It's all part of being a greener military!"
Finally a smart comment!
I live, literally, right next to WW. I hear Helicopters, Jets and Artillery practice everyday. It doesn't bother me. I live in a military town and I knew that when I moved here. For me it has nothing to do with the whole freedom thing. I grew up right next to an international airport and heard jets all day. You get used to it. I am listening to a helicopter as I type this. There are things in this town worth being concerned about. The sound of aircraft is not one of them.
Thank you Mr. Ralph Moore for your service in the military!! Deeply appreciated.
I personally don't mind the jets flying overhead. I love to watch them do their training stunts... Phenomenal!! Yes I've had my house shaken a few times. But I also don't place things of value so close to an edge to where it would fall off. I also don't go cheap on windows either!! And to those who will respond with my window comment...... you've got the internet right?? Am I sounding too mean to say, "disconnect the internet and use the extra cash for home improvements." ??
Wow, I think it's dead. Stop beating it.
Ever lived next door to a musher?
Yeah, but those dogs are howling for our freedom, so leave them alone, will ya?
baby_butterfly46 - >> But I also don't place things of value so close to an edge to where it would fall off. I also don't go cheap on windows either!! And to those who will respond with my window comment...... you've got the internet right?? Am I sounding too mean to say, "disconnect the internet and use the extra cash for home improvements >>
Do you realize what an ignorant comment that is? You are assuming that people are putting items of value too close to a window. How would you know that tidbit of information? Are you psychic? Are you such an informed person that you know exactly what kind of windows we have on our homes? How do you know that we have internet even? Do you have personal insight into that also? Or have you forgotten that internet service can be found at the public library? Or at the home of a friend? Out of all the comments made here, yours recieves the booby prize for being totally lame. Ride off into the sunset on your pink elephant Princess, or grow up a little before you decide to post another ridiculous and judgemental statement like this one.
I believe that living in this country allows me the freedom to put my valuables where I want to and to buy cheap windows. What if I only had the money for very narrow shelves and cheap windows? Does that mean I'm less of an American--- and don't have a right to voice concerns?
Wow, some people are taking this WAY too seriously
I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding here.. The aircraft are not flying directly over the city of Fairbanks performing the moves that make the sonic booms; the flying is taking place over the range where it is supposed to. Remember sound travels and it travels further when it is mooving through cold air. You do what you do, I'll do what I do.. in the end, I'm just glad I'm an American and we have the right to our opinion.
Has anyone that is complaining or not complaining ever sent a care package to the troops. Just to thank them, and let them know that you do support them.
Many years ago, I used to handle noise complaints for Eielson AFB. Many people have valid complaints, especially those people out in the 22 mile or so area of Chena Hot Springs roads whose dwellings predate the jet engine or sonic boom. Flight patterns and routes off the end of the run