Northern Edge participants make safety, environment issues priority

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nora Anton
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Joint U.S. forces hone current and test future applications of contingency operations in a variety of environmental circumstances in Northern Edge 08, while taking every precaution to protect the Alaska environment.

All participants consider safety and environmental issues during flight operations. Extensive orientations and familiarization flights inform pilots of the limits of the military training ranges and military operating areas, or MOA, to include altitude and speed restrictions.

They are also briefed daily on noise-sensitive areas on the boundaries of the MOA and counseled to observe the limitations.

"Supersonic activity is permitted throughout the Pacific Alaska Range Complex at 30,000 feet altitude or more," said Capt. Ronald Strobach, 353rd Combat Training Squadron battle management flight commander. "There are areas away from populated areas where supersonic activity is permitted down to 12,000 feet."

Captain Strobach said that restrictions are made on a geographic basis.

"Supersonic flight isn't felt inside the aircraft," said the battle management flight commander. "It would take the pilot looking at a mach indicator and altitude to instantaneously know they were above the speed of sound."

Any infraction of altitude or speed restrictions is unacceptable, and crews that violate these restrictions are disciplined.

Captain Strobach said that after initial identification of a complaint is made through public affairs, the exercise staff reviews their recorded ground instrumentation at the time. They then narrow down who could be the suspected aircraft and have them review their individual aircraft video tapes from that mission.

"If a pilot says they were traveling faster than the speed of sound, we evaluate the altitude and position down to the second to determine if they were operating in supersonic permissible airspace," said the captain. "If supersonic activity is permitted, then there is no further action, if the location was not a supersonic area, then the pilot has to do several things."

He said the first of these things is to fill out the Supersonic Log that is kept for record. Then the severity of the infraction is evaluated by the exercise senior staff; if the pilot was making every effort to avoid supersonic airspace and trying to slow down then the punishment may be only a warning. If it is more severe, the pilot could be grounded for at least one day, possibly longer or even sent back to their home station.

In an effort to reduce the potential number of complaints which inevitably arise from exercises of this magnitude, aggressive public outreach efforts were undertaken by commanders, their representatives and public affairs.. Radio and TV broadcasts, print releases, contacting administrators in Alaska Native villages and towns in potentially effected areas take place before the exercise.

These contacts provide the civilian community with a better understanding of exercise activities and what can be done in the event of excessive noise in the area.

"Every effort is being made to minimize the impact on the community by adhering strictly to the directives we have to follow," said Captain Strobach. "When a call is made about our activity we take it seriously and will investigate every call and make a determination if a pilot is or is not following the rules."

Eleventh Air Force has an established noise complaint program and oversees the 354th Fighter Wing or 3rd Wing's resolution of all noise complaints. Residents living in South central Alaska can call (907) 552-5756, and Interior Alaska residents can, call (907) 377-2116. The state-wide toll free number is 1-800-538-6647 (1-800-JET-NOIS).

In the event of damage caused by excessive noise, such as sonic booms cracking windshields, windows and the like, affected members can contact the nearest base legal office who will investigate and help process claims. 

All flight activities will be conducted in the Alaska Pacific Area Range Complex (PARC) or in special use airspace across the state. As a result, small civilian aircraft flying in MOAs are encouraged to use the Special Use Airspace Information Service by calling 800-758-8723 and during flight on VHF 125.3.

Pilots are also urged to obtain the most current status of the MOAs from any FAA automated flight service station, Anchorage center, or Eielson range control and to always file a flight plan.

Since Alaska provides incredible resources and opportunities for the U.S. military, the state will continue to be a favored location for future exercises. However, the military realizes its responsibility to the community and environment to help preserve those same resources to the utmost of its ability while continuing with its mission, and will take every measure to safeguard those resources.

"We are grateful to the citizens of the state of Alaska for their support as we use our expansive training ranges to conduct these critical joint training operations," said 1st Lt. Frank Hartnett, 354th Fighter Wing public affairs officer. 

Editor's Note:  Tech. Sgt. Kevin Aune of Elmendorf AFB's 3rd Wing Public Affairs office contributed to this article.