Oil spill's impact on military exercises

[30A Skunkape]

Now we know that the carpetbagger oil lobbyists and scalawag state legislators who reassured us that oil spills are a thing of the past were dead wrong.

Another part of the debate was concern that drilling activities in our waters would adversely impact important military training exercises over the Gulf of Mexico. State Senator Gaetz, whose common sense was annihilated by lobbying dollars, was particularly infamous for crawfishing on this issue.

So, does anyone know whether or not training activities have been put on hold? If so, this is just one more reason to vote out any incumbent that supported Florida drilling.

 

[Will B]

I'm not exactly clear how a spill on the surface could affect airspace tens of thousands of feet above the gulf. Just looking for a little more info before I decide to put a dog in the hunt.

 

[LuciferSam]

I'm not exactly clear how a spill on the surface could affect airspace tens of thousands of feet above the gulf. Just looking for a little more info before I decide to put a dog in the hunt.

What about Naval exercises?

 

[30A Skunkape]

I'm not exactly clear how a spill on the surface could affect airspace tens of thousands of feet above the gulf. Just looking for a little more info before I decide to put a dog in the hunt.

As I understand it, the Air Force was concerned that the rigs would attract recreational fisherman and divers as they are without debate great artificial reefs. They (military) have the ability to monitor every aircraft in their space but would have a tough time keeping track of a bunch of small sea vessels, potentially leading to a tragedy. I would have to assume the spill is going to attract many vessels ahead of the leading edge.

 

[Will B]

I dug through my old FAA sectionals to see if I still had one for our area. The New Orleans sectional covers our area of the beach. I don't know how far west Eglin's MOA (military operating area) extends. It's very extensive due south of Eglin and points east to cover Tyndall and McDill's areas, but I can't remember how far west it goes. If there are any more pilots out there, how about digging up a New Orleans chart and checking?