Letter: F-35 raises health, safety and cost concerns

Researchers in a 2013 Harvard and Boston University Schools of Public Health study revealed that older adults exposed to aircraft noise are at increased risk of hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease.

Other impacts from jet noise are hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and sleep disturbance. Child development issues from aircraft noise have been identified in poor school performance.

Other studies have identified that the elevated noise levels can create stress, workplace accident rate increases, aggression and anti-social behaviors.

FAA states a maximum average sound level of 65 dB is incompatible with residential communities. Individuals on Lady’s Island and Port Royal have recorded levels in excess of 100dB to 121dB when the jets are flying. The Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort commander stated that jets fly as low as 400 feet. It violates basic safety principles to fly so low.

Further, is the reduction in property values. Reportedly, communities in affected areas should be eligible for mitigation such as soundproofing, but who would pay for that expensive soundproofing? The Marine Corps? FAA?

If you voice your objection to noise or cost, narrow minds question your patriotism. Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, war veteran, and POW, is hardly unpatriotic. McCain called the F-35’s repeated cost overruns “worse than a disgrace”… “still one of the great, national scandals that we have ever had, as far as the expenditure of taxpayers’ dollars are concerned.”

Is this really the sound of freedom or the sound of taxpayer abuse?

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Letter: F-35 raises health, safety and cost concerns."