BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The commander of the Mountain Home Air Force Base in southern Idaho says the Federal Aviation Administration’s denial of a request for expanded training airspace could harm the base’s chances of landing F-35 Joint Strike Fighter wings.
Col. Ron Buckley says the FAA earlier this month denied the base’s request for 29 percent more space in Idaho, Oregon and Nevada to accommodate the faster F-35 jets.
State officials tell the Idaho Statesman that the request was denied partly because the FAA wants to reserve some of the requested airspace for commercial planes during bad weather.
Idaho officials say the jets could bring a $1 billion economic boost to the state, which is competing with other states to land the advanced F-35 fighters.
