Health Risks Spark Backlash Against Air Force Flight Training Expansion in Southwest

Silver City, a historic town nestled in southwestern New Mexico, has long been known for its peaceful atmosphere and proximity to the Gila Wilderness, the world’s first designated wilderness area. But now, the tranquility of this region is at risk due to proposed changes by the Department of the Air Force that could lead to low-altitude, supersonic military flights over the area.

Silver City, with its charming Victorian, Spanish Colonial, and American Western-style homes, has always been a haven for those seeking quiet and solitude. It is also the gateway to the Gila Wilderness, a pristine and unspoiled landscape that remains as it was before human intervention. “The wilderness stays wild and pure, just as it was intended,” said Brett Myrick, a local Navy SEAL veteran who has worked as a wilderness trails technician for the Forest Service. “We don’t take power tools or modern equipment into the wilderness. We use crosscut saws, like they did in the late 1800s. It’s about preserving the quiet.”

However, this peace is now threatened by the Air Force’s proposal to change how and when military aircraft fly over the region. According to the Department of the Air Force, they want to expand low-level military training operations over southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. This includes supersonic flights, which generate loud sonic booms, disturbing both residents and wildlife.

Retired Vietnam veteran Arthur Ratcliffe, who moved to Silver City for its tranquility, described his experience with low-altitude flights as “shaking the windows” of his house and triggering anxiety. Similarly, Myrick recalled being startled by the sound of a military jet flying over the Gila Wilderness, causing rockfall and a terrifying moment of panic. “It was like an explosion,” Myrick said. “That memory still sits with me.”

The proposed changes include reducing the flight floor to just 500 feet in some areas, and to 100 feet in others, essentially subjecting residents and the Gila Wilderness to “warfare games” overhead. The noise, as well as the risk of fires from flares released by aircraft and contamination from chaff, a chemical substance used to confuse radar, raises serious concerns. Chaff contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which can contaminate water, soil, and wildlife, and has been linked to cancer and other health issues.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-New Mexico) has joined the opposition, raising concerns about the increased noise pollution and environmental damage. Both Silver City residents and local tribes, including the Tohono O’odham Nation, San Carlos Apache, and White Mountain Apache tribes, have also voiced their concerns. The proposed expansion would affect tribal lands and communities, and representatives argue that the Air Force has failed to adequately consider the impact on these populations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also weighed in, criticizing the lack of thorough investigation into the health risks of noise exposure. Studies have shown that military aircraft noise can lead to sleep disturbances, hearing loss, and other health issues.

Community groups like the Peaceful Gila Skies coalition have mobilized against the proposed changes, gathering hundreds of signatures to stop the expansion. The group argues that the Air Force’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) fails to justify the need for such drastic changes and doesn’t adequately address the potential harm to public health and the environment.

While the need for military training is important, many in Silver City, as well as environmental groups, believe that the Air Force’s proposal places the region’s natural beauty, health, and sense of peace in jeopardy. As Myrick put it, “The idea of fighter jets flying at supersonic speeds and dropping flares over a pristine wilderness is an abomination.”

source