SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — The U.S. Air Force has rejected a request for an updated assessment of the potential noise effects of the F-35 fighter jets’ use of afterburners during takeoff in Vermont.
Mychamplainvalley.com reports that Assistant Secretary of the Air Force John W. Henderson denied the request made by retired Col. Rosanne Greco, who opposes the F-35 basing in Vermont.
The first two of an eventual 20 F-35 jets arrived last month at the Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington.
Henderson says there has not been “a change in the proposed action or significant new information” that would require an update.
Greco says the Air Force planned to track afterburner takeoffs, but didn’t announce what they would do if the estimates were off. She says, “Citizens deserve to know the what-ifs.”
