Q U I E T  S K I E S

** NEWS **

​February 27, 2026:  Now available: Recording of the webinar on the Financial Costs of the U.S. Military with a focus on the Growler Jets.       https://www.sounddefensealliance.org/printables/military-costs

Our neighbors, the Sound Defense Alliance, offer a website full of information and action. Check out their Resources page at: https://www.sounddefensealliance.org

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February 3, 2026:  The Sound Defense Alliance provides us with data about military costs:

Last year, the U.S. military spent an estimated $997 BILLION on defense. Meanwhile, our communities are facing funding cuts for essential services, the national cost of living continues to rise, and people across the country are struggling to find work to support themselves and their families.

 

The Navy itself has disclosed that Growler jets each costs $67 million - not including repairs, maintenance, fuel, training, and more. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office's data on military aircraft, the Growler’s operating and support cost per flying hour was estimated at about $36,000 per hour (2020 cost estimate).

 

The Growler's F/A-18 body is one of the most accident-prone airframes. So what happens to this incredible amount of money when these machines crash? How much does it cost when a pilots decides to take a "short" detour to watch the sunset, draw some shapes with contrails in the sky, or even fly noisily over a few homes off course from their flight path? How much does the U.S. spend on its military compared to other countries?

 

These are the questions we have been asking and what we will be dedicating all of February to raise awareness around.

Throughout the entirety of this month, we will be utilizing our online platforms to provide public education around various costs of the U.S. military - including the Growler jets, of course.

 

We are partnering with Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, NW Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition, and Seattle Against War to spread this information far and wide. And, we are hosting an online webinar with these three organizations to close out the month! The webinar will be held on February 24th, from 6-7:30pm.

 

Please register to get the Zoom link and share the invitation with your friends, family, and neighbors:

Military Costs Webinar — Sound Defense Alliance

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January 24-25, 2026: Growlers training at Paine Field, Everett. Pattern work or touch and go's during daylight hours.  Reported by Paine Field Airport.

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January 11,  2026: 

Deadline to Comment: Jan 19th, 11:59pm!!!!

SUPPORT SCIENCE-BASED PROTECTIONS FOR ORCAS IN MILITARY TESTING SITES

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The U.S. Navy (USN) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement / Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS/OEIS) to evaluate ongoing and future at-sea training and testing activities in the Pacific Northwest, including locations within designated and protected habitat of the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs).

 

Testing and training activities occur on and beneath the surface and in associated airspace, and are analyzed for potential effects on marine species, habitats, and ecological functions. The SEIS/OEIS process is meant to ensure that updated scientific evidence is factored into decisions about how, when, and where these activities occur.

 

How does Navy training and testing impact orcas and other species?

 

Southern Residents are acoustic animals and rely on echolocation for survival. Echolocation and acoustic calls allow them to locate and identify prey, coordinate group foraging, maintain social bonds, and navigate their environment. Scientific research has shown that even modest increases in background noise can interfere with these essential behaviors.

 

The direct impacts of sonar on Southern Resident killer whales were observed and documented in May 2003, when whales were exposed to U.S. Navy sonar. During this exposure, researchers documented interruptions to foraging behavior, changes in dive patterns, and temporary displacement from preferred habitat.

 

Noise does not need to cause physical injury to be biologically significant. When echolocation is masked, whales spend more time searching for food, expend additional energy, or abandon productive foraging areas altogether. In the 1990s, the use of high-amplitude acoustic harassment devices (AHDs) at salmon farms in British Columbia was associated with a marked decline in Northern Resident killer whale presence in affected areas, demonstrating that sufficiently intense or persistent acoustic disturbance can cause resident orcas to avoid or abandon important travel or foraging habitat.

 

This finding is particularly relevant for Southern Residents because active military testing areas overlap with designated Southern Resident critical habitat. Increased noise in these areas raises the risk of displacement from essential foraging habitat, compounding existing stressors such as prey limitation and vessel traffic.

 

Public comments are due Jan 19th by 11:59pm.

 

• Read more from the Orca Conversancy and see some of their suggested talking points: ORCA CONSERVANCY INFO & TALKING POINTS

 

• Read about how Growler jets have impacted endangered Southern Resident Orcas off of Whidbey Island: GROWLERS & ORCAS

 

Submit comments online: Northwest Training and Testing Supplemental EIS/OEIS Comments

 

Submit by mail:

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Northwest
Attention: NWTT SEIS/OEIS Project Manager
1101 Tautog Circle, Room 102
Silverdale, WA 98315-1101

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January 9, 2026:  The Navy released the final amended analysis in December for the Environmental Impact Statement on EA-18G Growler aircraft operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Comments are open until January 18. For background, click here.

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November, 2025: Runway Re-openings at Ault Field, NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – The most recent phase of repairs to Runways 7/25 at Ault Field is complete. The base will begin using all its runways, 7/25 and 14/32, starting on Monday, November 24, 2025.    Flight operations will now be split between runways 7/25 and 14/32 depending upon prevailing environmental conditions and operational necessities.

As a reminder, NAS Whidbey Island established a comment line and email address where community members can express their thoughts, concerns, and issues.  The phone number for this service, including noise complaints or concerns, is (360) 257-6665.  Alternatively you may email your comments to “NASWI_Noise_Comments@us.navy.mil”. Comments regarding flight operations should note the time an event occurred, where exactly the event occurred and as much detail as possible about what was seen. We also ask that people leave their contact information for our tracking purposes. All other questions can be directed to NAS Whidbey Island Public Affairs Office at (360) 257-2286.

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There's more about lawsuits, Navy responses, the UW study on health impacts..... Go to News Archive...

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