Environmental Assessment Temporary Use of a Training Airport

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Environmental Assessment Temporary Use of a Training Airport

D. Miller / J. Wallin / R. C. Wooten

The purpose of the action is to ensure there is no disruption to pilot training at Columbus AFB while Runway 13Right/31Left (13R/31L) at the Base is closed for repair and repaving from approximately February to July 2003. Under the Proposed Action, Columbus AFB would rotate as many as 18 T-1 aircraft to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTRA), which is about 13 miles southwest of the Base and 10 miles west of the City of Columbus, Mississippi, on a weekly basis during the 6-month period and then fly training sorties from the airport. Columbus AFB T-37 aircraft would continue to be parked at and launch and terminate sorties at the Base; however, T-37 airfield operations would be accomplished at the GTRA Mondays through Fridays during the 6-month period. T-1 and T-37 aircraft would accomplish about 161.20 average daily operations at the GTRA. The Air Force would transport a mobile air traffic control tower to the airport from another location for use in controlling all aircraft traffic at the airport during the period when T-1 and T-37 operations would be conducted at the airport. The airspace within an approximate 5-mile radius of the GTRA and up to 2,500 above ground level would be designated as class D airspace when the air traffic control tower would be operating. No extensive aircraft maintenance activities would be anticipated to occur at GTRA other than the rare occasion when a T-1 or T-3 7 aircraft might land at the airport due to an emergency that would require maintenance before being capable of a subsequent flight. This EA evaluates the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, Columbus AFB would not locate T-1 aircraft at the GTRA or conduct T-1 and/or T-37 airfield operations at the airport while 13R/3 1L at the Base would be closed.