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Bill Aims To Stop Low-Flying Air Force Flights

DURANGO, Colo. (AP) - Two Colorado lawmakers are sponsoring a bill aimed at preventing low-altitude military flights over a large portion of the state.

The bill from Reps. Wes McKinley and Edward Vigil tries to do that by reinforcing property rights of people affected by the flights.

The Durango Herald reports that the definition of property would include air space up to 500 feet above the ground. The Air Force would have to prove in court why it needs to fly over the property before it could use the space.

The Air Force has proposed low-flying training flights from Grand Junction and Aspen in western Colorado to Albuquerque and from the Arizona and Utah borders to La Junta in southeastern Colorado. It says the terrain is similar to what pilots encounter in Afghanistan

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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