Alternative 2

Under Alternative 2, the ceiling of three airspace segments would be raised to improve the high-altitude training capability of day-to-day training and the lateral dimensions of two ATCAAs would be reduced. Other changes would be the same as Alternative 1 and include an administrative change to the published times of use for day-to-day training, raising the ceiling of the entire complex during LFEs, and increasing the total LFE days.

Specifically, Alternative 2 includes:

• Actions to improve day-to-day operations:
  • Reduce dimensions of Gateway East ATCAA and allow day-to-day use (currently only allowed for LFEs)
  • Reduce dimensions of Gateway West ATCAA (exact reduction would be determined between the Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration outside of this EIS process)
  • Raise the ceiling of the Powder River 2, Gateway East, and Gateway West ATCAAs from 26,000 feet to 60,000 feet
  • Change times of use for PRTC to 7:00 am to 12:30 am Monday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday, and other times by NOTAM (same as Alternative 1)
  • These changes won’t impact the annual total operations in the complex, but the aircraft activity would occur in a new area on a day-to-day basis and occur at higher altitudes 
    
    • Approximately 90 percent of training time would be in Powder River 2, Gateway East, 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:
  
  • Incorporate reduced dimensions to Gateway East and West ATCAAs
  • Raise the ceiling of all PRTC from 26,000 feet to 60,000 feet (same as Alternative 1)
  • Increase the total days allowed annually from 10 days to 30 days (same as Alternative 1)
  • Increase duration allowed for individual LFE events from 3 days to 12 days (no weekend flying) (same as Alternative 1)
  • The additional LFE days could increase annual total operations in the complex up to 4,974 sorties from 3,234 sorties (same as Alternative 1)
    
    • Approximately 90 percent of LFE training time is above 18,000 feet