NORFOLK, Va. –
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, Santa Rosa County, Florida.
The Navy proposes to modernize its rotary-wing and tilt-rotor pilot training program at Training Air Wing (TW) 5 located at NAS Whiting Field and its respective helicopter training Navy outlying landing fields in Florida. 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 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 https://www.nepa.navy.mil/ahts and at the following libraries:
- Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola, Florida
- Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Avenue, Pensacola, Florida
- Century Branch Library, 7991 N. Century Boulevard, Century, Florida
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 N. Ninth Avenue, Pensacola, Florida
- Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino, Florida
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, Florida
- Westside Branch Library, 1301 W. Gregory Street, Pensacola, Florida
- Pace Library, 4750 Pace Patriot Boulevard, Pace, Florida
- Milton Library, 5541 Alabama Street, Milton, Florida
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 https://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.