Mayor Michele Kern of the community of El Mirage next to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona complained during an Arizona Republic editorial board last week that the community she represents does not want Luke to close, but the community has suffered disproportionately in the fight to preserve the base from encroaching development. The community last week hosted a meeting to discuss its opposition to basing the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Luke, a position that has put it at odds with the state’s Congressional delegation and the governor and other communities. El Mirage has looked at the legal action taken by Valpariso, Fla., to fight the F-35 schoolhouse going in at Eglin AFB, Fla., and has asked the Air Force to bring one of the new fighters to Luke for noise tests rather than using modeling to inform an environmental assessment. (Arizona Republic report)
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.