W. Valley base could be home of F-35 program
by Michael Senft - Dec. 15, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard are urging Air Force leaders to make Luke Air Force Base the future home of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
The two met with Air Force Secretary Michael Donley; Gen. Norton Schwartz, the service's chief of staff; and other officials last week at the Pentagon to discuss the future of the West Valley base.
"We had a positive and productive discussion with Secretary Donley and General Schwartz," Goddard said in a statement. "In addition to briefing Air Force officials on state and local requirements put into effect to protect the base, we made it clear that Luke and its current and future missions have overwhelming support across Arizona."
Luke is a finalist in the Air Force's efforts to determine which bases will become primary training facilities for pilots of the F-35, which is scheduled to replace the aging F-16.
Luke is home to the world's largest F-16 training school. Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho is considered its primary rival for landing the F-35 program.
"If we are successful in acquiring the F-35 for Luke, it will help the mission of the base for the next 40 years," Barrett said. "We aren't talking about a short-term solution - after they begin arriving in 2010, the F-35 will secure Luke Air Force Base through 2050."
According to Barrett, who represented West Valley cities in the discussions, the meeting focused on three points:
• The support of West Valley cities for the Glendale base.
• The impact of the F-35 on Maricopa County's pollution levels.
• The noise contours for the area and whether the new fighter bombers, which are louder than F-16s, would meet those standards.
Barrett said he was able to allay the Air Force's concerns.
"Fortunately, Maricopa County had conducted a pollution study and concluded the F-35 would not significantly increase pollution levels," he said. "And when they set out the noise contours for Luke, they figured them for F-15s and F-16s. The F-15s are dual-engine planes and are significantly louder, so we figure the F-35 will fall within the existing contours."
Barrett believes that with the F-16 due to start phasing out within the next 10 years, the F-35 program is critical to the future of Luke.
The loss of Luke would have a tremendous impact on the West Valley. Barrett argued that its prosperity is tied to the base.
"This is a $2-billion-a-year economic engine that is essentially recession-proof," he said. "We need to continue to join forces and do everything we can to secure the West Valley's financial future - that's essentially what we are talking about. This supersedes all other issues in the West Valley."
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