We are all aware of the expanded Controlled Firing Area at the 29 Palms base, but what the USMC is proposing is significantly larger than what we have heard previously. This has been quietly in the works for a few years now.
Check out the two proposals and related graphics that illustrate the magnitude of what they are proposing at this site. It includes new restricted areas, new MOA’s and expansion and modification of existing MOA’s. Here are screenshots of the two alternatives being proposed.
Here is a link to the USMC site with detailed information about the airspace proposal: 29PalmsPSUA
The USMC is seeking public comments on a draft environmental assessment of the proposed expansion. The deadline to submit comments is September 15th. The FAA will be asked to review the proposal for approval some time in November this year.
Please consider including the following in your comments. You may have other impacts you wish to share:
- The impacts of the proposed expansion on your personal flying activities.
- The additional restricted area has the potential to delay medivac access, utility aerial patrols, and aerial law enforcement patrols.
- Lowering the altitudes of MOA’s can increase collision risk between military and GA aircraft.
Here is the link to submit comments: Environmental Impact Statement – Comment Submission Please remember the deadline to comment is September 15th.
Once again this is up for debate, the Marines already have enough land to play games on and to test other equipment. The OHV area has already been negatively impacted by encroachment and now they want more? I fly through that area on many occasions and it’s not typically a problem but the new proposed MOA’s and Restricted areas will absolutely affect general aviation in a negative way. The bigger issue will be emergency aircraft safety conducting flight operations in one of the busiest OHV areas. This is quite literally a life and death matter where seconds count and having to potentially get approved to enter the airspace could mean a person makes it or not. This airspace grab is incredibly dangerous and irresponsible especially when the base in question already has enough land and restricted airspace above to conduct operations. Another question that needs to be answered is where will this nonsense stop? It didn’t stop at the last expansion “land grab” and I know it won’t end here. If the military had their way they would restrict all land and air use from here to Havasu! This can’t be allowed to happen period!