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Tolerating The Roar Of Strong Defense

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2008

MacDill Air Force Base has long been a tremendous community asset and key component of the national defense, yet local leaders dare not take its presence for granted.

With the Air Force always seeking efficiency and routinely assessing which bases to close, Tampa must do all it can to make sure MacDill feels welcomed. A main consideration is to avoid or quickly resolve conflicts between quiet neighborhoods near the base and the noise of low-flying military jets.

Tampa officials are right to follow a policy of keeping the neighborhoods compatible with the base. To allow higher buildings and greater population density would put new hazards in the landing pattern and could jeopardize base vitality.

The current outlook is good. A reserve unit from Michigan - the 927th Air Refueling Wing - is moving here in a few months to join at MacDill the 6th Air Mobility Wing, Special Operations Command and Central Command.

Many improvements are being made at the base, including new housing, and the job-creating construction is expected to continue through 2011. The inconvenience of noise is a price worth paying for a stronger local economy and strong national defense.

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