HomeNewsArticle Display

Vance officials meet with wind energy executives to discuss cooperative efforts

Flight

1st Lt. Carmela Rourke, right, with the 3rd Flying Training Squadron, discusses an orientation flight with Tom Kiernan, president and CEO of American Wind Energy Association, prior to takeoff, July 30, at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Cameron Schultz)

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Members of Team Vance and the American Wind Energy Association met on base July 30, 2019, to discuss cooperative efforts in siting wind and alternative energy projects.

Vance Air Force Base flies almost 250 safe sorties every day and works with corporate project managers daily to mitigate conflicts between free enterprise and flight and public safety.

Col. Corey Simmons, 71st Flying Training Wing commander, briefed executives from AWEA and several energy companies on weather radar encroachment, air traffic control clutter and visual flight hazards that reach beyond the base and into private flights as well.

The visit ended with two of AWEA’s members taking a flight in a Vance T-1A Jayhawk to better familiarize themselves with the risk mitigation measures the Air Force and Department of Defense have put in place.