CAB6

Documents

Overview/update

The addition of a Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) at Fort Carson (120 more helicopters, 2,800 more troops) is slowly moving forward. The comment period for the CAB Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) ended on October 10. That report was actually done 2 years ago and is only being touched up a bit. We have been investigating various issues which are not covered in the report. We want to know what Army helicopters are already doing in our area and have highlighted how the addition of a full CAB with its 120 helicopters of all shapes and sizes would likely play out. There are already several dozen helicopters stationed at Fort Carson and visiting CAB's regularly train there also. Much of the flight training happens outside the boundaries of the Fort. There are 16 helicopter landing zones (LZ's) in the mountains to our west and at least 8 LZ's on the plains to the east. (see maps below) We know that because we have received information in response to our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. We have sent in additional requests for information to the Army and to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) The US Forest Service sent us information some helpful information. Fort Carson and the BLM have not yet responded to our questions about the frequency of the use of the LZ's or the actual number of off Post helicopter flights, including those at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver site (PCMS). This information is needed to establish a baseline before 120 more helicopters are brought on board. The Army has said that a lot of the additional training for the CAB would be done at PCMS. We believe they would then use that as an additional argument for expansion at PCMS.
About 6 weeks ago the Air Force introduced a proposal to greatly expand the training area for Low Altitude Tactical Navigation (LATN) flights. This operation would be headquartered at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico and would involve training exercises for Air Force Commando operations. The initial plan would call for 3 flights per day of C-130's and Osprey aircraft. Both would sometimes fly as low as 200 feet off the ground. Most missions would be at night under the cover of darkness. The Air Force is especially interested in training in the high altitude areas of northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. As with the Army's helicopter training in our area the mountain terrain is seen as just the kind of challenge those being trained need. There has been enough opposition being registered that the Air Force has been forced to change their plans for quick implementation of the proposal. They had to add 6 weeks to their timeline and added public meetings at 8 locations. Those meetings have been completed and they are now back on track for implementation of the proposal if there is not political opposition. The meetings have surfaced considerable opposition especially at places like Taos, NM. The meeting in Pueblo last week brought a steady stream of negative comments which "will be taken into consideration" according to the Air Force Colonel in charge of the hearing. He was insistent that there would be no increase in the number of flights. Our experience has shown that those kind of promises are often not kept.
The expansion of PCMS remains on hold. But the current moratorium on expansion lasts only until next year. The Army clearly still wants a major expansion at PCMS but can't proceed unless the political climate changes which may happen after the election. Both the CAB proposal and LATN proposal have an impact on the arguments for expansion of the training area. If the CAB comes to Fort Carson the Army has said a majority of their training would at least originate at PCMS. They might even add to the number of high altitude LZ's closer to that area. They would deny that I'm sure but once they've got their foot in the door there's nothing much to be done to oppose such a plan. Also with the LATN proposal there would be repercussions for the PCMS area. Initially there are no plans for air drops during the LATN training flights. But one can imagine that might change down the road. What better place to do that than at PCMS. The Army Special Forces at Fort Carson are already involved in such air drops at PCMS, so there is precedence.

Durango Herald Report

Air Force training ops proposed for area

Military seeks public comment about environmental assessment

by Dale Rodebaugh

Sunday, September 05, 2010

The U.S. Air Force wants to know what issues the public thinks

should be included in an environmental assessment of a plan to

allow low-flying military planes to train over the mountains of

Southwest Colorado, including La Plata County, and northern New Mexico.

The terrain in the proposed training area would simulate

conditions that crews of the workhorse C-130 and the new CV-22

Osprey could encounter in special missions elsewhere, Greg

Allen, a civilian public affairs spokesman for the 27th Special

Operations Wing, said Friday.

Crews stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County, N.M.,

would train in the proposed Low Altitude Tactical Navigation area.

The area extends as far north as Grand Junction and Aspen and

south to Albuquerque, west to the Utah-Arizona state lines and

east to La Junta. Other Colorado cities in the proposed area are

Montrose, Gunnison, Durango, Cortez, Alamosa, Colorado Springs,

Pueblo and Trinidad.

Mike Eisenfeld, who coordinates San Juan Citizens Alliance

efforts in New Mexico, said there's every reason to conduct an

environmental assessment.

"It appears that this is a significant action that will require

an opportunity for affected communities to be part of a

public-involvement process," Eisenfeld said. "We expect the Air

Force will come to community-scoping sessions and explain what

is proposed and how the area will be affected."

Tim Blake, who lives in unincorporated La Plata County, was

disturbed by an ad Friday in The Durango Herald announcing the

environmental study.

"It was the vagueness of the notice," said Blake, who runs an

antique auto parts business. "If you read between the lines, the

impact of this could be nil to horrendous."

In an e-mail to the Air Force, Blake said the notice "failed to

advise the specific areas to be potentially affected. Please

advise the projected specific incursion into airspace in La

Plata County as a result of the LATN project."

Air Force 2nd Lt. Stephanie Strine answered an hour later: "I

forwarded your question to the appropriate personnel so we can

give you an accurate answer. I will forward you their response

as soon as possible."

Allen said Air Force crews have undergone special-operations

training in various places, including Florida, but this is the

first time as far as he knows that the Colorado/New Mexico area

has been used.

The proximity of Cannon, sparse population and varied topography

and weather were factors in selecting the Southwest for the

training, Allen said.

Among conditions for the proposed plan:

€Training flights would be limited to about three a day or 688 annually.

€Training would take place between 200 and 3,000 feet, with

the majority at 500 feet.

€Airspeeds would be below 300 mph.

€The majority of flights would occur after dusk on weekdays.

€No more than one flight a day would occur over a given point.

€Distance must be maintained from cities, airfields,

noise-sensitive areas and wilderness areas.

€No airdrops.

€Light and communications systems would continue to be used.

The environmental assessment will consider noise, air quality,

ground safety, threatened or endangered species, archaeological

resources, land use and recreation.

The planes that would train for special missions are C-130s,

variations of which have been manufactured for decades. The

four-engine plane has a crew of five. The Osprey, which carries

a crew of four, is a twin-engine aircraft that can maneuver as a

helicopter or as an airplane.

daler@durangoherald.com

http://www.durangoherald.mobi/article/?article_id=197280

Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for High Altitude Training

http://www.carson.army.mil/mpd/FC%20Regs/NEW%20PDF/FC%20REG%2095-1.pdf

5-11. Mountain training areas.

a. Aviators utilizing the mountain training areas and landing zones are required to be mountain/high altitude qualified and current by a recognized mountain training POI. The authorized programs are from the High Altitude Aviation Training Site (HAATS), Fort Carson's mountain POI or TF 160th POI. Unit commanders will provide the 4th Infantry G3 Aviation/MSE G3 AVN, Installation Standardization officer, or his designated representative, with a memorandum listing the pilots by name and SSN stating who meets the above requirements.

b. Three mountain training areas with Sixteen LZ's are established for the purpose of conducting mountain/high altitude helicopter training and qualification. The Fort Carson Mountain-High Altitude Program of Instruction establishes procedures for training, qualification and utilization of the areas.

(1) Phase one consists of power management and Aircrew Orientation Course with academics.

Phase one must have all academics prior to the first aircraft flight during RL3 to RL2 training.

24 FC

(1) The use of training areas and specific landing areas is coordinated annually by the G3 Aviation/MSE G3 AIR through the U.S. Forest Service Regional Office, Wild Life Service, and the City of Colorado Springs. These training areas are not owned by Fort Carson, but are authorized for use through a USFS approved agreement with Fort Carson.

(2) Visiting units will coordinate the use of mountain training areas through G3 Aviation/MSE G3

AIR to BAAF operations.

(a) Altitudes. Maintain 100 feet AHO or higher when transitioning between mountain training

areas or landing areas.

(b) Separation. Butts Radio provides KNOWN traffic advisories within the mountain training

areas. However, the mountain training areas are on public land and the airspace is not protected.

Therefore, standard SEE and AVOID rules apply.

(d) Aircraft Density in each mountain training area is limited to three aircraft or one multi-ship operation.

Noise complaints received by Fort Carson will require written response from AMC/PC through the unit chain of command to the Public Affairs Office (PAO), Attn: Commander, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson within 48 hours of notification.

9-6. Mountain training.

a. Conduct mountain qualification and training under the provisions of the Fort Carson Mountain-

High Altitude Helicopter Qualification and Training Program of Instruction.

b. Responsibilities:

(1) The G3 Aviation/MSE G3 maintains the Fort Carson POI for high altitude helicopter

operations and training. The POI will be developed with input from unit standardization sections for each aircraft type.

40 FC REG 95-1 * 1 FEBRUARY 2010

Unit Commanders ensure strict compliance with the Fort Carson Mountain-High Altitude

Helicopter Qualification and Training Program of Instruction.

Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for using low altitude route "Hawk" from Ft. Carson

2-14. Off-military reservation low-level training route.

a. Low-level training route (Hawk) is established for the purpose of training low-level navigation for day, night, and NVG operations. Use of the route is reserved through BAAF Base Operations to deconflict traffic.

b. See Chapter 4 for operating procedures. Route Hawk is defined by the following check points:

(1) SP Hawk, River Bridge vicinity EC 15365388.

(2) H-1, Highway Bridge vicinity EC 14544527.

(3) H-2, Railroad Bridge vicinity EC 09734105.

(4) H-3, Highway Bridge vicinity EC 16833383.

(5) H-4, Highway Bridge vicinity EC 14672121.

(6) H-5, 1-25 Bridge vicinity EC 23040836.

(7) H-6, Highway T-Intersection vicinity EB 44167713.

(8) H-7, Railroad Bridge vicinity EB 75765310.

(9) H-8, Railroad Bridge vicinity EB 83205877.

(10) H-9, Highway T-Intersection vicinity EB 84299465.

(11) H-10, Road Triangle vicinity EC 71343870.

(12) H-11, Building on Railroad vicinity EC 62745833.

(13) RP, Railroad Bridge vicinity EC 31626513.

2-15. Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Restricted Operating Zone (ROZ).

a. All UAS's currently operate in R-2601 and require a ROZ to be established through Range Control prior to their flight. Publication of a local NOTAM will be accomplished by Butts Army Airfield (BAAF) Operations and Range Control will execute the activation of the ROZ.

FC REG 95-1 * 1 FEBRUARY 2010ff