Navy Accepting Input On Advanced Helicopter Training Plan

June 30, 2019

The Navy has completed and released to the public a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the replacement of the TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopter system with the Advanced Helicopter Training System at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field.

The Navy proposes to modernize its rotary-wing and tilt-rotor pilot training program at Training Air Wing Five located at NAS Whiting Field and its respective helicopter training Navy Outlying Landing Fields.

The AHTS would involve the replacement of TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopters, replacement of existing simulators, an increase in operational training tempo, changes in operational tactics based on a new curriculum, construction of temporary and permanent supporting facilities, and an increase in personnel.

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to address the capability and capacity gaps of the current aging TH-57 helicopter training system operated by Training Air Wing (TW) 5 at NAS Whiting Field. The AHTS would provide a newer, more capable, more reliable helicopter and training system to TW-5. The proposed AHTS would meet the advanced helicopter and intermediate tilt-rotor training requirements through 2050.

Interested parties may view a copy of the Draft EA at the website www.nepa.navy.mil/ahts and at the following libraries:

CENTURY: Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Boulevard.

MOLINO: Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A.

PENSACOLA: Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring Street; Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Avenue; Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 North Ninth Avenue; Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway; Westside Branch Library, 1301 West Gregory Street.

PACE: Pace Library, 4750 Pace Patriot Boulevard.

MILTON: Milton Library, 5541 Alabama Street.

Public comments on the Draft EA must be postmarked or received online no later than July 19, 2019. Written comments may be submitted online at www.nepa.navy.mil/ahts or mailed to:

AHTS EA Project Manager
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic
Attn: Code EV22TW
6506 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23508

Public comments on the Draft EA will be considered in the Final Environmental Assessment.

Pictured: TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters from Training Air Wing 5 sit on the flightline at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Navy Accepting Input On Advanced Helicopter Training Plan”

  1. Charlie on June 30th, 2019 10:22 pm

    Great to see that things are progressing in the replacement of the TH-57 training helicopters. While these are always kept in great operating condition & have one of the best safety records for all Navy aircraft, the oldest were made in 1981, with the newest going back to 1985. Older than the students learning to fly them.