To the Editor:

This is in response to the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors voting against the Navy practicing landings at Franklin Municipal Airport.

I think supervisors had an episode of “ready, fire, aim.” They complained about lack of information and then took action based on their ignorance.

Some of the quoted statements made just do not reflect reality. The type of aircraft the Navy will be flying is rather small in number. There will not be aircraft flying over “the house” for three hours a day.

While these pilots may be qualifying or re-qualifying for carrier landings, they are still qualified to fly these aircraft, and it is a safe procedure. Military training is based on a building block process — do the easier steps first and work toward the more complicated next.

Would we really want our pilots to make their first carrier landing on a real carrier? Now these aircraft have to go to Jacksonville, Fla., for this training — a distance of over 500 miles. How wasteful is that in time and fuel?

People, this is the U.S. Navy. They are on our side. We need to ensure they get the best training possible efficiently.

The little bit of noise these aircraft will make will not destroy anyone’s quality of life, nor will it prevent economic development.

Dale Fowler
Smithfield