Given all the attention on the issue of military training airspace over western Maine, I wanted to take the opportunity to ensure residents understand the ongoing actions.

There are two distinct and separate proposals.

First, a proposal for the F-35 to replace the F-16 at the Burlington Air Guard Station in Vermont, and a second separate proposal to create Condor Low airspace from 7,000 feet mean sea level to 500 feet above ground level for F-15 and F-16 training.

The F-35 is a highly-advanced, multi-role fighter that will be a cornerstone for the U.S. Air Force to meet requirements and global posturing for decades to come. It will replace legacy fighters such as the F-16.

It is crucial to emphasize that the F-35 Draft Environmental Impact Statement assesses airspace in the region as it currently stands and not with the proposed changes under Condor airspace for the F-15 and F-16. This translates to no lower than Condor’s existing floor of 7,000 feet MSL for the F-35. Within the F-35 DEIS, the Adirondack complex airspace over Upstate New York is sufficient for F-35 low altitude training.

The F-35 is not forecast to use the structured low-level routes, such as VR840/841/842 in western Maine. More than 80 percent of the training for the F-35 is planned to be above 23,000 feet, as compared to approximately 80 percent of F-16 training occurring below 23,000 feet.

To address a common inquiry, though unlikely, any future changes to Condor/Scoty airspace for F-35 training requirements would follow appropriate environmental assessment processes in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and associated regulations.

The F-35 DEIS states, “no changes to airspace structure or management would occur with the beddown of the F-35As” and “noise levels in Condor/Scoty would remain low and generally consistent with ambient conditions.”

The Burlington AGS is a preferred alternative basing location as a result of a strategic basing process conducted by the USAF. The basing process criteria involved mission (airspace/weather), infrastructure modification costs, capacity (facilities, ramp space, runway), military judgment (strategic location, homeland defense, global posture, etc.) and the final decision will take into account the environmental assessment.

A record of decision whether to base the F-35 in Vermont is expected late this fall by the secretary of the Air Force.

The second process is an initiative to create Condor Low training airspace from 7,000 feet MSL down to 500 feet AGL for the F-15/F-16. The Air National Guard began this process in 2004. It does not apply to the F-35 and the only fighters assessed were the F-15 and the F-16.

Negotiations with the Penobscot Nation are under review in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The proposal was built around realistic mission oriented training requirements and the Federal Aviation Administration is the final approval authority.

Brigadier General Richard Harris is the national co-chairman for the USAF/ANG Airspace and Range Council.