F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment - Joint Base Elmendorf ...

F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment
2.0 Description of the Proposed Action and Alternatives
Table 2.2-2. Current and Projected F-22 Altitude Use
Altitude (feet) Percent of Flight Hours: F-22
>30,000 MSL 70%
10,000-30,000 MSL 25%
5,000-10,000 MSL 3%
2,000-5,000 AGL 1.5%
1,000-2,000 AGL .25%
500-1000 AGL 0.25%
Additional F-22 operational aircraft would fly training flights in one or more of the Alaskan
training airspaces, as do the existing F-22s. Activities in the training airspace are termed sortieoperations.
A sortie-operation is defined as the use of one airspace unit by one aircraft. Each
time a single aircraft flies in a different airspace unit, one sortie-operation is counted for that
unit. Thus, a single aircraft can generate several sortie-operations in the course of a mission.
The JBER affected airspace units consist of MOAs and ATCAAs currently used by the F-22s for
routine training. Figure 2.2-2 presents these airspaces. ATCAAs overlie nearly all of the MOAs.
Figure 2.2-3 presents a closer view of Restricted Areas with the air-to-ground ranges currently
used for F-22 air-to-ground missions.
The additional F-22s would employ supersonic flight to train with the full capabilities of the
aircraft as do the existing F-22s. All supersonic flight would occur at altitudes and within
airspace already authorized for such activities. The augmented F-22 squadrons would continue
to fly approximately 25 percent of the time spent in MOAs and ATCAAs at supersonic speed.
The F-22 has greater performance capabilities than either the F-15C or F-15E, and pilots must
train to use those capabilities.
2.2.1 F-22 Training Flights Within Alaskan Airspace
The F-22 has the potential to use missiles or a gun in air-to-air engagements. Training for the
use of these weapons is predominantly simulated. Simulating air-to-air attacks uses all the
radar and targeting systems available on the F-22, but nothing is fired in Alaskan airspace. F-22
live-fire air-to-air training would continue to occur during specialized training or exercises at
ranges authorized for these activities.
The current sortie-operations in JBER MOAs within Alaska are
presented in Table 2.2-3. The existing 36 F-22s use the Fox,
Stony, and Susitna MOAs and associated ATCAAs for 65
percent of their training sortie-operations. Table 2.2-4 compares
existing MOA training of JBER-based F-22 aircraft with the
proposed training activity of the augmented squadrons of F-22
aircraft.
The F-22 aircraft do not train in MTRs, and they are not
projected to do so with current missions. F-22 training does
include incidental training in the Blying Sound Warning Area
(W-612) (see Figure 2.2-2). A Warning Area is an over-water
airspace similar to range airspace over land.
Operational pilots must continually train to
maintain skills essential for combat. Existing
Alaskan airspace would meet the training
needs of F-22 pilots based at JBER.
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