Thune embracing PRTC government overreach

Yet another aircraft has gone down in the Powder River Training Complex: this time the victim is a civilian pilot and clergy member. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are probing the incident near where two Ellsworth Air Force Base B1-B Lancer bombers have previously augured in under mysterious circumstances.

The U.S. Air Force has released its final environmental impact statement for an enormous military airspace complex that includes Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. But the environmental statement, released Nov. 28, does not address concerns about the safety and economic impacts of the proposed Powder River Training Complex on general aviation operations in Montana. “We are concerned that the Air Force has chosen not to make accommodations for general aviation operators in its final environmental impact statement,” said Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president of government affairs. “We will continue to work with all parties involved to help find ways to improve the operation of the airspace and minimize the economic consequences associated with this military training area.” [Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association]

Senator don Juan Thune (earth hater-SD) says he's been stroking the elephant's staff and expects to achieve climax in about 45 days. The state's junior senator says the Air Force is expected to make its decision on the proposed expansion of PRTC that includes portions of northeast Wyoming then FAA would consider its impact.

Montana hates the idea of expanded government overreach.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, said in a statement on Wednesday that he's pleased the Air Force has addressed some of the objections that Montanans raised about the initial proposal, but said he still has concerns about how the expansion will affect ranchers, tribal lands and regular pilots. [Stars and Stripes]

New Mexico is under the microscope for being too dependent on federal largesse: in South Dakota the feds mean survival.

Spare the rod, spoil the senator.

After the 1997 crash of a B-1 in Carter County a responding volunteer firefighter from Alzada told this interested party the multi-million dollar aircraft was brought down by a rancher with a .30-30 Winchester.

Maj. Gen. Michael Carey, an important figure in national security and commander of the 20th Air Force and based at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming was recently fired. Overall, Carey was responsible for three wings of U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles: 9,600 people and 450 missiles in all. Several Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile units have drawn increased scrutiny lately: in August the Inspector General gave a failing grade to the 341st Missile Wing based at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and a March inspection led the Air Force to decertify some members of the 91st Missile Wing based at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.

Warren, Minot and Malmstrom can manage the Northern Command: it's time for endangered sage grouse to get a reprieve from extirpation: close this training range and convert Ellsworth to a fire-fighting tanker base.