The United States Air Force (USAF) proposes to improve required training for Major Flying Exercises (MFEs) by establishing the Delta MOAs consisting of four connected MOAs which could be scheduled together or independently. The proposed action would establish connecting airspace to provide a realistic setting for MFEs. MFEs in Alaskan airspace provide aircrews with realistic simulated combat experience. The expanded capability of aircraft establishes the need for contiguous airspace to meet MFE training objectives. The Delta corridor separates the Yukon MOAs from ranges R-2202, R-2205, and R- 2211, and the Fox and Eielson MOAs. At present, training aircraft must transition the Delta corridor by either climbing above Flight Level (FL) 180 (18,000 feet above mean sea level MSL) into the Delta Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA) or funneling through the low-level Birch or Buffalo MOAs. The abrupt and segmented changes in altitude associated with the current MOA structure introduce pilot concerns about the boundary of the airspace and artificially constrain realistic threat-avoidance and attack run-in training at exactly the time pilots should be focused on combat conditions. The current airspace configuration requires pilots to train using non-optimal tactics in restricted training regimens. This continually reinforces negative habit patterns which can affect pilot survivability in combat. Current MFE training requirements cannot be achieved at the combat mission level with the existing ATCAA and MOA structure connecting the Yukon and Fox/Eielson Special Use Airspaces (SUAs). The Delta MOAs (collectively termed the Delta MOA in this Environmental Assessment EA) would permit the north/south training environment required by today s technology to meet current MFE training. The proposed Delta MOA would have a ceiling of FL180 at the existing Delta ATCAA and overlie the Birch and Buffalo MOAs.
Establish the Delta Military Operations Area Environmental Assessment
2010
412 pages
Report
No indication
English
Aeronautics , Logistics, Military Facilities, & Supplies , Military Operations, Strategy, & Tactics , Environmental Health & Safety , Air space , Environmental assessment , Military exercises , Military facilities , Military training , Air quality , Cultural resources , Land use , Landing fields , Military requirements , Noise , Recreation , Safety , Delta moa , Mfe(Major flying exercises) , Airspace management , Alternatives , Biological resources , Environmental justice , Fonsi(Finding of no significant impact) , Moa(Military operations area) , Physical resources , Socioeconomics