U.S. jets screaming over downtown Sarnia a sign of 'militarized' border, says mayor

[chancy]

Hello Everyone:
How would you like screaming jets flying over your city and downtown without even being in their own country? Best friends don't do that to each other.....
chancy

Link:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/u-jets-screaming-over-downtown-123309866.html

Article:
U.S. jets screaming over downtown Sarnia a sign of 'militarized' border, says mayor

CBC - October 26, 2017

American fighter jets thundering over Sarnia are raising questions about safety and Canadian sovereignty, according to the city's mayor.

Mike Bradley has written a letter to Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland about two A-10 Thunderbolt II planes, nicknamed "Warthogs" that have been roaring along the Canadian side of the border before flying through downtown Sarnia and over the chemical valley since the summer.

"It's the principle of our sovereignty," he said. "It's also very frightening. I've heard a couple of stories where it's petrified people."

Bradley said this isn't the first time the planes, which take off from nearby Selfridge Air National Guard Base, have been spotted over Sarnia. He complained to the federal government about the same problem seven years ago and received an apology from the base commander and a promise it wouldn't happen again.

"Well it's happened again and it's been happening all summer," he said, adding he's hopeful Freeland will be able to explain why the jets have returned or to encourage the Americans to stick to their side.

Border becoming more 'unfriendly'

The mayor said while not everyone is disturbed by the flyovers, he sees them as a problem and sign of changes along the boundary between the two countries.

"I'm personally disturbed we've militarized the border between Canada and the U.S. way beyond what I think it needs to be," he said. "We've made it a much more unfriendly border."

[pyrangello]

I grew up right near Selfridge AFB, my suspicion is flight patterns and traffic and since we are friendly neighbors-our 2 countries. I really don't see cause for alarm. Selfridge has been there forever, It located north of Detroit about 30 miles to the northeast and borders lake St Clair and Canada is on the other side of the lake. They are always doing practice stuff out of there and up to northern Michigan and possibly doing trail runs indeed on the border. I think there's much more to be concerned about around the world than this chancy :) .Just my 2 cents

[chancy]

[QUOTE=pyrangello;1187447]I grew up right near Selfridge AFB, my suspicion is flight patterns and traffic and since we are friendly neighbors-our 2 countries. I really don't see cause for alarm. Selfridge has been there forever, It located north of Detroit about 30 miles to the northeast and borders lake St Clair and Canada is on the other side of the lake. They are always doing practice stuff out of there and up to northern Michigan and possibly doing trail runs indeed on the border. I think there's much more to be concerned about around the world than this chancy :) .Just my 2 cents[/QUOTE}

Hello pyrangello:
Thanks for the reply to this article. You may be correct But I don't see the military jets doing the flyovers over downtown Detroit? Since I have flown alot in my life it's not possible that it's a flaw in the system especially when crossing a countries border is something completely different than taking a joy ride in your own air space.
chancy

[dynamo]

.. I really don't see cause for alarm. ..
Agreed, BUT...
It may be a good idea to wear your depends in Sarnia if you are prone to "accidents" when startled by low flying, 460mph military jets! :bigsmile:

[Justplain]

I grew up in sarnia and there wasnt a lot of jet flyovers that we noticed when i was growing up, though there was an occassional one. Because north american airspace (usa + canada) share joint air defence via norad, when american aircraft fly in canadian airspace they are really in home airspace. That being said, they should not be buzzing sarnia. In some towns they may fly drills on landing at the local airport, but sarnia's airport is not jet ready and is several miles outside the city, so it doesnt seem neighbourly of the national guard jets to be doing flyovers. In any case, i doubt it means much outside of a hotdog squadron, tho one can never tell.

[sandy]

One would think with all the US where with all regarding their military might they wouldn't have to strut their stuff to there waning friends, let alone their Sister Country and Country men. Sometimes humility and humbleness far exceeds exceptionalism..............as a Canadian and fellow North American citizen I am not not impressed with the mighty USA> :doh:


Good on you Chancy for voicing your concerns, I hear you. :highfive:

[Ernie Nemeth]

Warthogs are nasty little flying demons.

dM8mbE7iWug

[Niv]

Because north american airspace (usa + canada) share joint air defence via norad, when american aircraft fly in canadian airspace they are really in home airspace.

Justplain, for the win. NORAD is joint US and Canada air defense and planes of either country may be found over the skies of the other.