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September 27, 2019
GOSPORT
Note: NAS Whiting Field is preparing for a new helicopter training system. Part of bringing on new aircraft and the infrastructure that supports them is ensuring we are good neighbors to our surrounding communities. The following Fleet Forces Command press release details the findings of the recent environmental assessment and public comment period.
Navy releases finding of ‘No Significant Impact’ for Advanced Helicopter Training System at NAS Whiting Field
U.S. Fleet Forces Command Press Release 19-19 Sept. 19, 2019
T
he Navy has made available the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which evaluates the potential environmental effects from the replacement of the TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopters and implementation of the Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, Santa Rosa County, Florida.
A TH-57 Ranger helicopter takes off at NAS Whiting Field’s newest Navy Outlying Landing Field, Site X. Training Air Wing Five at NAS Whiting Field is planning for a new advanced helicopter training system to replace the TH-57 helicopter in the near future. One hundred percent of all Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps helicopter pilots train at NAS Whiting Field. Photo by Julie Ziegenhorn, NAS Whiting Field public affairs
The proposed action will modernize the Navy’s rotary-wing and tilt-rotor integrated pilot production training program at Training Air Wing Five located at NAS Whiting Field and its respective helicopter training Navy Outlying Landing Fields, in Florida, by implementing the AHTS. The AHTS involves the replacement
The Draft EA was made available for public review and comment from June 28 through July 19, 2019. All comments received were considered in preparing the Final EA. Based on the findings of the Final EA and the public review of the Draft EA, the Navy has determined that this action will have no significant impact on the quality of
of TH-57 Sea Ranger training helicopters, replacement of existing ground based training systems (i.e., 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 human environment. Therefore, preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been issued. The Final EA and FONSI are available at w w w.nepa .nav y.mil/ ahts or at one of the following public 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; Jay Library, 5259 Booker Lane, Jay, Florida and Genealogy Center, 6275 Dogwood Drive, Milton, Florida.
Final NASWF page in Gosport: NAS Whiting Field has benefited from and appreciated the association with NAS Pensacola’s Gosport newspaper and publisher the past many decades. We appreciated the added ability to spread the word about the great events and people serving at NAS Whiting Field, the busiest aviation complex in the world. Our mission is to train the world’s finest aviators, and on behalf of the leadership and teammates at NAS Whiting Field, Training Air Wing FIVE and our tenant units, thank you for the long association. We will miss seeing the Gosport weekly, and send all the very best wishes to the professional staff, writers and photographers who published an outstanding product each week.
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