Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young’s short documentary focuses on the audio havoc created by the U.S. Navy on Whidbey Island in Washington state. While the Navy had maintained a presence at Naval Air Station Whidbey for years without incident, its use of the EA-18G "Growler" jets for flight training brought significant new concerns. These jets are much louder than their predecessors, and the regularity of the training flights has increased substantially. As a result, the Whidbey Island residents have begun to experience hearing-related problems that have been traced directly to the Naval Air Station. Complicating matters is the base’s use of the PFOA and PFOS chemicals for firefighting at the station’s landing strips—chemicals that have seeped into the local water system, forcing many locals to rely on bottled water. Although the Whidbey Island residents state that they are not anti-Navy, they nonetheless expect the military to respond to these issues. The film features a single Navy officer answering questions, although it is obvious that he has no power to correct matters, while a news clip with former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis nonchalantly answering a question during a Senate hearing on the situation suggests little interest on the part of the Pentagon. Presenting a prime example of military indifference to real-world issues, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Plane Truths
(2018) 33 min. DVD: $225. Bullfrog Films. PPR. SDH captioned. ISBN: 1-948745-03-8. Volume 34, Issue 5
Plane Truths
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