(Photo courtesy of Luke Air Force Base)
The City of Litchfield Park sent out a recent notice to make sure communities are informed that Luke Air Force Base will be flying a little later than normal during the month of April. Two Fighter Squadrons from Luke AFB will be entering the “night phase” of F-16 training during April. From April 8 through April 11 they will be training until 11 p.m. and from April 15 through April 25 they will be training until 10:30 p.m.
While Luke AFB reserves the right to fly their missions 24/7 if requirements dictate, they have been successful in minimizing the late night flights, causing minimal noise disruption to surrounding communities. Now that we are into spring and with summer quickly approaching, bringing later sunsets, the take offs and landings will follow the sun setting and get progressively later in order to accomplish the night flying requirements.
I’ve lived in Litchfield park since 2003 and can count on my hands the number of times Luke has flown past 10 pm. They have always been sensitive about being a good neighbor to the surrounding communities. Most folks that I talk who live in and around Litchfield Park and in other communities closer to Luke Air Force Base are generally pleased with Luke’s ongoing sensitivity and understand that yes, it is an active air force base and jets do take off and land there.
The mission of Luke Air Force Base is to “Train the world’s greatest F-16 fighter pilots and maintainers, while deploying mission ready warfighters”. Night flights are part of training.