Responding to a request from AOPA, the U.S. Air Force has agreed to extend the comment period on a draft environmental assessment related to plans to make the Delta Military Operations Area (MOA), located near Delta Junction, Alaska, permanent.
Interested parties now have until Jan. 19 to tell the Air Force how the MOA would affect their flying. Written comments should be addressed to Mr. James W. Hostman, 611 CES/CEAO, 10471 20th Street, Suite 302, Elmendorf AFB, AK 99506-2200.
“This extension will give those who are busy or away during the holiday season the opportunity to be heard,” said Peter Lehmann, AOPA manager of air traffic services. “This is an important decision with significant implications for pilots in the area, and we are pleased that the Air Force recognizes the need to give all parties the opportunity to comment.”
The proposed MOA would shut off access to V-444, a major east-west route. Without access to V-444, pilots would need to make a detour of nearly 400 miles using an airway with a minimum en route altitude that is 5,000 feet higher—a significant difference for most general aviation aircraft. Despite that fact, the Air Force environmental assessment ended in a “finding of no significant impact.”
AOPA plans to file formal comments on the proposal and will keep members informed as the process continues.
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