VT Air Guard plans to use F-35 afterburners
Meaghan Emery
Oct 31, 2024
The Vermont Air National Guard recently proposed regular use of afterburners for its F-35 jets, presenting the plan as beneficial for Winooski residents. However, the decision has sparked significant backlash, especially among South Burlington residents who already experience high noise and air pollution levels. Concerns center around inadequate public communication, lack of detailed environmental impact studies, and a disregard for health impacts on local residents, such as hearing loss and air quality issues. Despite public opposition, the accelerated study planned for early next year will focus only on noise levels, omitting detailed data on ground-level noise and air pollution.
Main Points
- Vermont Air National Guard announced plans to regularly use afterburners for F-35 jets.
- The plan is said to benefit Winooski residents, reducing their exposure to incompatible noise zones.
- Residents of South Burlington face increased noise and pollution, becoming collateral damage of the proposed change.
- Concerns raised about lack of communication; the Guard did not engage with residents or provide adequate information.
- Accelerated environmental impact study planned, focusing only on noise, excluding broader health impacts.
- Lack of ground-level noise and pollution data, obscuring the full effect on local residents’ health.
- Existing impacts include noise up to 110 decibels, causing hearing loss and health issues among residents.
- The Vermont Air National Guard previously excluded residential data when applying for F-35s, ignoring potential impacts.
- South Burlington residents feel abandoned by government and military leaders, given the daily exposure to high noise and pollution.