Potential implementation of new F-35 jets cause noise pollution concerns in Madison, WI

 

Potential implementation of new F-35 Jets cause noise pollution concerns in Madison, WI 

To give some context behind this topic, The Wisconsin Air National Guard fighter jet unit is based out of Madison, WI and it appears eminent that they will change from their older F-16 fighter jet planes to new F-35 fighter jet planes (Jones, 2020). This change however does not come without some serious environmental concerns. The major concern from residents in the Madison, WI area is noise from these new jet planes. Madison residents, rightfully so I will add, are worried about the locations of their homes and schools due to noise pollution from F-35 jet planes.  

 I found it very sad when I read that more than a 1,000 homes could be considered "incompatible for residential use" and this is according to Meg Jones of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This implementation of F-35 fighter jet planes will impact family life at home for people who live near the Wisconsin Air Guard base and I see this as a negative impact on family life in the Madison area community. Madison is a city that I think is a beautiful city and it would be sad and disappointing to see the natural environment in the city negatively impacted. I read in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal article, about a resident who lived in a home near where the Wisconsin Air National Guard currently has F-16 fighter jets and the resident said when these planes fly in the sky "he could not hear work conference calls in his own home" which is terrible to think noise pollution from planes has the ability to cause people to ineffectively work from home (Jones, 2020).  Just imagine what it would be like for this resident and other residents when louder planes fly overhead.  

 The first few F-35 jet planes are not expected to arrive in Madison, WI until April of 2023 and all 18 of these jet planes are expected to arrive in May of 2024 according to Meg Jones of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. So it is still a few years off till Madison residents have to truly worry about this potential new change. I can only believe the anticipation of these jet planes coming into Madison is causing Madison, WI residents anxiety. To give an idea of how loud F-35 jet planes are vs. the F-16 jet planes, the F-35 planes are 97-116 decibels vs. the F-16 planes which are 95-110 decibels and this is according to Meg Jones of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A few decibels of sound may not seem like much but it makes a difference and not a positive difference. These decibel numbers are louder than lawn mowers but not nearly as loud as the loudest rock concerts according to Meg Jones of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. But still noise louder than a lawn mower is a lot of noise for people to have to contend with on a day to day basis. 

And sadly not only is noise a concern for residents regarding these new fighter jet planes. Another issue is air quality and the air we breath as humans is so vital to our health as human beings (Danbeck and Ermon, 2020). Without clean air human health is negatively impacted in my opinion.  One might ask is noise pollution only a problem in the United States and in Wisconsin locally? The answer to this question is no. Noise pollution is a problem other places and it affects places all throughout the world. The same goes with air quality. These environmental problems will continue to be problems unless we make change in the governmental system and the economic system in the United States and other places throughout the world is my personal thought.  

 To read more about this particular environmental issue read these two links below:  

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/madison-selected-as-a-preferred-location-for-f-35s/ar-BB10aHdv

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/02/20/madisons-truax-field-likely-getting-f-35-s-despite-noise-concerns/4819333002/ 

References 

 Danbeck, Jackson and Ermon, Brittany. (2020). Madison selected as a preferred location for F-35s. NBC 15 Staff. MSN News. Retrieved from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/madison-selected-as-a-preferred-location-for-f-35s/ar-BB10aHdv 

 Jones, Meg. (2020). Madison almost certainly will get new F-35 jets at Wisconsin Air National Guard unit, despite noise concerns. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved from: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/02/20/madisons-truax-field-likely-getting-f-35-s-despite-noise-concerns/4819333002/