Environmental Assessment of Interim Flight Training Authority at Airfields in the Northeast

Abstract : A permanent C-17 Northeast Landing Zone (NE LZ) is scheduled for completion by Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 at Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES) Lakehurst, New Jersey, to serve as the primary northeast C-17 aircraft training airfield for use by both the 305th Air Mobility Wing (305 AMW) from McGuire Air Force Base (AFB) and the 436th Airlift Wing (436 AW) from Dover AFB. In the interim, there is a need to establish temporary landing zone (LZ) capabilities at one or more airfields in the northeast. The proposed interim C-17 LZs would be in close proximity to McGuire AFB and Dover AFB to allow day and night assault training and tactical approaches and departures for C-17 aircrews. Two locations [Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield (AAF) and Richmond International Airport (lAP)] meet the required criteria and were selected as the Interim Flight Training Authority sites for the C-17.