Michigan airspace proposal should be 'more realistic'

The Michigan Air National Guard has proposed changing the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center’s airspace to make it suitable for Large Force Employment Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground exercises. It would add an airspace floor as low as 500 feet agl in some places as depicted on this map.

In November 2018, AOPA offered modifications to reduce the impact on Michigan’s important GA economy based on feedback provided by area pilots. The military has begun to host presentations on the proposal and to receive feedback directly from those affected.

AOPA has met with military officials several times on the plan. To provide them with more information, AOPA conducted a detailed survey in February 2019 to gauge how flying in the area could be affected.

AOPA recently met with staff from the offices of Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) and Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.) to brief them on the results of the survey and the potential concerns of GA pilots. Responses revealed widespread pilot concern, with more than three-fourths of pilots reporting they fly in the designated airspace “sometimes, often, or always,” and that large majorities expect adverse impacts in specific sectors and on airways. According to the survey, approximately 62 percent of GA flights in the area occur from the surface to 6,000 feet msl—where much of the proposed new and expanded SUA would be located.

Many pilots also registered concern about increased costs and risk—including potentially hazardous GPS jamming by the military during exercises.

Kyle Lewis, AOPA Great Lakes region manager, said the survey gave pilots in the region “a chance to become part of the conversation.”

“AOPA relies on its membership to provide insight on the types of local operations that could be affected,” he said.

The military is conducting an Environmental Assessment of the proposal and may seek public comment on a draft of the document this summer, said Rune Duke, AOPA senior director of airspace, air traffic, and aviation security.

“We are hopeful the military will understand the negative impact this new airspace would have on general aviation airports and operators and that they will modify their proposal,” he said. “We are waiting to see if the formal proposal is more realistic and accounts for the large number of civil operators flying in that area.”