Populated areas no-fly zones for US pilots

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — Poultry raisers in communities around this former US Air Force (USAF) base never really liked the Americans. US military jets used to create such noise as to stunt the growth of their chickens.

But they are not complaining now that the US military is back here, although temporarily, for the "Balance Piston" joint military exercises with Filipino troops.

According to a top USAF official, US military pilots have been instructed to skirt populated areas when flying.

The official, who briefed newly appointed Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFACom) director Jaime Yambao on the "Balance Piston," asked not to be identified pending the appointment soon of an official US military spokesman here.

"There is now a policy declaring the skies over populated areas as no-fly zones. And it’s not really because we fear that our aircraft would crash, but because we want to spare the communities from noise," the USAF official said.

Maj. Allan Ballesteros, spokesman of the 600th Philippine Air Base Wing, said the USAF are using six C-130 cargo planes and three double-propeller CH-47 helicopters in the joint military exercises which started last Jan. 11.