Navy, FAA announce public meetings for proposed Lemoore MOA in central California

Navy, FAA announce public meetings for proposed Lemoore MOA in central California

Airspace users in the central California area will have the chance to attend two public meetings to learn about the environmental aspects of the proposed Lemoore Military Operations Area (MOA) over Lemoore Naval Air Station south of Fresno, California. The public will be able to view charts that detail the airspace and then provide comments. These meetings are required as part of the environmental assessment the Navy is conducting in cooperation with the FAA.

"The Navy tried to mitigate the effects of an additional MOA in an area already saturated with special-use airspace, but the plan would still negatively impact IFR traffic and cause costly reroutes," said Heidi Williams, AOPA director of air traffic services. "AOPA has questioned the need for a 30- by 70-mile MOA and filed formal comments against it. Local users also need to voice their opinions - attend these meetings, learn about the proposal, and provide informed comments."

AOPA continues to oppose the proposal.

That's because the MOA would severely limit pilots' ability to utilize RNAV routes through the San Joaquin Valley. Plus, implementing the MOA below 12,000 feet msl would exclude aircraft movement in a large portion of south-central California's airspace because the IFR handoff altitude is 8,000 feet.

The public meetings are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, January 9, at Lemoore High School in Lemoore, and Tuesday, January 10, at the Corcoran City Council Chambers in Corcoran.

Pilots who cannot attend the meetings can send comments to:

Commander Strike Fighter Wing
U.S. Pacific Fleet (Code N30)
001 K St.
NAS Lemoore, CA 93246-5022.

Remember to include your name and address, and have your comments postmarked by January 24.

January 5, 2006