The local Air National Guard (177th Fighter Wing - NJ) currently flies F 16s. Apparently, they are long in the tooth and half of the jets are down for maintenance or repair at any given time. They requested to have the jets replaced with the F 35. This request was denied, in part, because of “poor air quality”. None of the articles that I found explain what impact the air quality has on the planes. Is it something to do with the “stealth” surface of the jet or what?
Doesn’t make any sense to me, on multiple levels. You’ll have to provide a link or something to where you read this.
First, “poor air quality” may be describing the state of air pollution near the airbase, but I can’t see that as a determining factor in a basing decision. An F-35 will probably cause more air pollution than an F-16, to be sure, because it uses a much more powerful engine. But I can’t see what that has to do with anything.
Also, that unit IIRC is part of the air sovereignty alert mission, so the prospect of leaving F-16s there until they age out, and the unit goes away, makes zero sense.
What I think is more likely is that this squadron tried to move up in line for replacement of its aircraft, and was told that the Air Force wants to keep with its fielding plan. I’d bet they get F-35s at some point, but maybe not at an earlier date. I happen to know that the same unit is also seeking upgraded radars for its F-16s, so it kind of doesn’t make sense to ask for both upgrades to the current planes and new planes at the same time.
It’s the other way around - Planes have an effect on Air Quality. As per the attached report, F-35C has higher CO (Carbon Monoxide) and VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions than F-35B. The higher emissions may result in air quality issues especially Ozone / Smog.
Here’s an environmental assessment of replacing F-35B with F-35C. I do not understand fighter planes or the differences between F-16 and F-35 but am familiar on the environmental issues.
Look at table on Page 33 of 42
The AF in 2016 narrowed down a list of 15 Air National Guard bases/units to intially receive F-35’s (generally to replace F-16’s) to 5. The 177th Fighter Wing NJ ANG, based at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), was one of the ones eliminated. NJ Congressman Frank LoBiondo was quoted as saying this was due to the effect of low local air quality in the AF’s analysis.
And air quality is listed as a criterion in AF basing decisions, not only for Low Observable a/c. There was a somewhat similar tiff when the AF passed over Bangor ME as a base for new KC-46 tanker a/c and the Congressional delegation said the AF’s calculation was wrong.
Other answers have referred to Environmental Impact Statements for basing particular a/c which focus on the change in local air quality due to the new a/c (v the old ones, or if number is being changed). But the AF basing criteria scoring seems to be based on the pre-existing air quality of the area, not directly on the impact on the air quality of the a/c in question.
I can’t find an explanation for the exact rationale of this but can think of at least two reasons:
-that an area with high air quality would pose less risk of a problem in the EIS or subsequent restriction on operations of the a/c to address non-compliance of the overall local air quality with some standard, so IOW indirectly related to the air quality impact of the a/c though not exactly the same or
-the impact of air quality on the a/c which would also be true. An environment like ACY is harder on an aircraft just because near the ocean, than a drier area a long way from the ocean. Also LoBiondo’s understanding (though I wouldn’t take that 100% to bank) seemed to be a concern about powerplant/industrial emissions in states to the west of NJ carried over by prevailing winds. Those could increase corrosion on a/c, VLO or conventional.
Note that traditionally the Air National Guard flies mainly second hand a/c retired from active component USAF units. It’s relatively unusual for them to receive new a/c from the factory. Although it has happened, some F-16’s and C-130’s for example have been delivered new to ANG units though the majority of both types in the ANG are second hand. It seems also in case of F-35A only a limited number of ANG units will receive these a/c new.
The 177th’s a/c now are relatively old, among still operational F-16’s, F-16C/D Block 30’s. Some at least are scheduled to receive new much more capable radars however.