Book Description

The Air Force flies supersonic flight operations in the Sells Military Operations Area (MOA)/Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA). Review of the existing supersonic waiver to conduct supersonic flight operations below 30,000 feet was accomplished. Several alternatives were reviewed to include the 'no-action' option. These alternatives were broken down into low altitude flight training and Sells Airspace supersonic training sections. In the low altitude section, the RDEIS reviewed establishing flying routes at other bases, rerouting military training routes, raising the minimum altitude on MTRs, discontinuing low level navigation flying, and developing additional routes. The supersonic training alternatives included transferring supersonic training to other MOAs/ATCAAs or restricted areas, raising supersonic training floors, discontinuing training, and establishing a new training area. The primary environmental concerns of supersonic flight operations are the effects of sonic booms on human health and annoyance, wildlife, structures, cultural resources and recreational activities.