Bryan meets with Navy to discuss sonic booms

Saturday, Sept. 6, 1997 | 9:12 a.m.

Bryan, D-Nev., said Friday that he met with Cmdr. Guy Brubaker, the executive officer at Fallon NAS, to discuss the sonic booms, and Brubaker promised to work with Austin residents.

"Austin residents have raised legitimate concerns about the damage done to their homes and businesses, and the Navy is obligated to develop a strategy to respond to these concerns," he added.

"Fallon NAS has assured me that the Navy will act to alleviate the problem and I will continue to monitor the situation," Bryan said.

The session with Brubaker followed a recent meeting in Austin where residents expressed frustration over the ineffectiveness of a citizens' committee formed by Fallon NAS last December to deal with the problem.

Since the establishment of a supersonic operating area over central Nevada in the early 1980s, residents have lodged numerous complaints about sonic booms and low overflights.

Fallon station officials this year have twice admitted to violations by pilots who left the operating area and flew directly over Austin.

In February, a pair of sonic booms by Navy jets caused varying amounts of damage to 28 homes and businesses in Austin. The damage, which included broken windows and cracked walls, was paid for by the Navy.

In May, two Navy pilots rattled Austin with sonic booms while performing a maneuver. There were no reports of structural damage.

Austin is located on U.S. 50 about 170 miles east of Carson City.