Supersonic Flight Operations In The Reserve Military Operations Areaholloman Air Force Base New Mexico

The 49th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, proposes to fly approximately 300 supersonic sorties per month in the Valentine Military Operations Area/Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace area. All proposed supersonic flights would be conducted during daylight hours and at an altitude above 15,000 feet mean sea level which is 8,000 to 10,000 feet above ground level in the MOA. Several alternatives were reviewed including the no action option. A review of existing MOA's within 150 NM of Holloman AFB show the more viable alternatives to be: utilize only the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) and the Reserve MOA; use only the WSMR and the Valentine MOA. The Air Force's preferred alternative is to conduct 300 sorties per month in both MOA's (Valentine and Reserve) to minimize the number of sonic booms each area would receive. The primary environmental concern associated with the proposed action is the effects of sonic booms. It is projected an individual would hear no more than 2 to 3 sonic booms per day in the area of flight operations. Over-pressure levels would range from 1 to about 5 psf with the average carpet boom being 2 to 3 psf. Focus booms could occur in the area. Concerns have been raised about significant indirect impacts to the economy by sonic booms impacting ranching operations and recreational activities.

Pursuant to congressional requests, GAO reviewed the Air Force's decision to use two military operations areas for training involving supersonic flights to determine: (1) the Air Force's need for the projected number of supersonic flights for the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW); (2) the adequacy of the Air Force's evaluation of the alternative to supersonic flights over both Valentine, Texas and Reserve, New Mexico; (3) the Air Force's compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act's procedural requirements; and (4) the actions the Air Force has taken to ensure that supersonic flights do not enter Mexican airspace, and the repercussions if Mexican airspace is entered. GAO believes that: (1) in light of the Tactical Air Command's air-to-air training requirements and the comparability of 49th TFW air-to-air flying to a similar wing, the number of supersonic flights projected in the environmental impact statements was reasonable; (2) the Air Force's proposal to use both Valentine and Reserve for supersonic operations was appropriate because none of the alternatives were more cost-effective or operationally feasible; (3) the Air Force complied with the procedural requirements of the act for preparing environmental impact statements since it provided adequate time for public comments, responded to all relevant comments, and allowed more than the required minimum of 30 days between issuing the final statements and deciding to implement the proposed actions; and (4) the Air Force is acting to avoid entering Mexican airspace, and no repercussions seem likely in the event of such overflights.