F-22s to conduct night flying training over Tularosa Basin

  • Published
  • By the 49th Wing Public Affairs Office
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The 49th Wing will be conducting routine F-22 Raptor night flying training during the next two weeks, to stay current with mandatory Air Force requirements.

Most training flights should be completed each evening before 10:30 p.m. The training may produce more noise than normal at Holloman, over the White Sands Missile Range airspace and near communities in Otero, Lincoln and Dona Ana counties.

"As a part of our reconstitution of the F-22s, and to meet requirements set by the Secretary of Defense, we will be conducting some night flying operations," said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Logan Clark, 49th Wing Public Affairs officer. "We will continue to make every effort to balance the requirements of our training and help reduce the impact of that training on our neighboring communities."

Night flying is conducted regularly to ensure pilots can operate the F-22 in all environments and situations. During this training the aircraft will conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground training in airspace designated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Residents in these areas might also experience some sonic booms as part of the training. As a result of the F-22's "supercruise" capability, sonic booms can occur when the aircraft is in flight.

The 49th Wing makes every effort to utilize airspace over White Sands Missile Range. However, that airspace is only available when testing or other development activity is not being conducted. In addition to the restricted airspace within WSMR, the airspace above McGregor Range and within military operation areas north and east of Holloman, are used to train.

In order to assist residents with being prepared for potential sonic booms, the Holloman Public Affairs Office regularly releases the flying schedule to media organizations throughout southern New Mexico and far west Texas. The office also emails the report to anyone who requests the flying schedule, while also posting the flying schedule on the base website at www.holloman.af.mil.

The F-22s stationed at Holloman are scheduled to move to Florida, however, there is no specific timeline as to when this movement will take place.

All questions regarding the exercise or for additional information on Holloman, please contact the 49th Wing Public Affairs office at (575) 572-5406 or (575) 572-7383 during regular business hours, or (575) 572-7575 after hours.

For more information about Holloman and its personnel, please visit the Holloman website at www.holloman.af.mil; or visit the Holloman Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HollomanonFB.