Mohave County Battles Air Force’s Proposed Jet Flight Height Reduction

Mohave County is formally opposing a U.S. Air Force proposal that seeks to significantly lower the flight altitude for military jets in the region. The plan aims to reduce the minimum altitude for training flights from 5,000 feet to just 500 feet over the Bagdad Airspace, covering a stretch from Havasu to Prescott.

Last month, the Air Force submitted the proposal as part of a broader initiative to augment military training exercises across designated areas in Arizona and New Mexico. Concerns raised by local officials prompted a vote from the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, who in a 3-2 decision opted to draft a letter of opposition.

Air Force representatives argue that adjusting flight altitudes is essential to addressing training deficiencies for crews based at various bases, including Davis-Monthan and Luke Air Force Bases. However, this change would have wide-reaching effects, impacting 10 special airspace zones in Arizona and Western New Mexico.

Supervisors Gould and Johnson cast their votes against the objection, while rest of the board supported it. Johnson noted that military operations have been using the airspace for some time, suggesting that the need for enhanced training justifies the changes. “Our military needs to train,” he explained, downplaying potential disruptions.

In contrast, Supervisor Jean Bishop, the board’s only pilot, expressed strong concerns regarding the proposed altitude. “Five hundred feet is really, really low,” she stated, emphasizing the sudden and disturbing nature of low-flying jets, especially at night. Bishop highlighted the potential impact on local residents, underscoring the need to reconsider the proposal’s implications.