Under Alternative 1, the ceiling of the two primary airspace segments used for day-to-day training would be raised to improve the high-altitude training capability. This alternative also includes an administrative change to the published times of use to align with how the complex is currently used for day-to-day training. Lastly, under this alternative the ceiling of all the PRTC airspace would be raised during LFEs and the total LFE days would be increased.
Specifically, Alternative 1 includes:
Actions to improve day-to-day operations:
Raise the ceiling of Powder River 2 and Gateway West ATCAAs from 26,000 feet to 60,000 feet
Change times of use to 7:00 am to 12:30 am Monday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday, and other times by Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
These changes to day-to-day training won’t change the annual total operations in the complex, but the aircraft activity would occur at higher altitudes
Approximately 90 percent of training time would be in Powder River 2 and Gateway West ATCAAs
Approximately 90 percent of training time in all of PRTC is above 18,000 feet
Actions to improve training capability of LFEs:
Raise the ceiling of all PRTC from 26,000 feet to 60,000 feet
Increase the total days allowed annually from 10 days to 30 days
Increase duration allowed for individual LFE events from 3 days to 12 days (no weekend flying)
The additional LFE days could increase annual total operations in the complex up to 4,974 sorties from 3,234 sorties
Approximately 90 percent of LFE training time is above 18,000 feet
Changes for Day-to-Day Training (Monday through Friday)
