Issue:
ED‐2
AZARNG Site: There is potential for energy transmission
lines impacting training.
Entire JLUS
Project Area
Future transmission lines may impact low level
training routes, if not properly coordinated with
AZARNG. There are some energy transmission
line project being considered that are partially
within the JLUS Project Area.
Compatibility Assessment
The AZARNG conducts helicopter training operation across the JLUS Project Area.
Silverbell Army Heliport is the primary aviation training facility for the AZARNG. Airspace
around SBAH, including the 3,600 square mile TFTA is invaluable to the helicopter
training mission and provides for day and night operations. Within the 3,600 square mile
TFTA are helicopter flight routes capable of both day and night operations. Picacho Peak
Stagefield and Rittenhouse Training Site are also important locations for different types
of helicopter training. Due to the geographic separation of these sites, general flight
routes are used to fly between them and conduct training missions.
The AZARNG conduct various training scenarios in the JLUS Project Area and along the
routes, many of which involve low level fight operations. Low level flying in helicopters
can be hazardous under the best conditions and any incompatible land use, such as tall
structures within the flight routes in and around the training area / routes can pose
safety concerns for pilot and aircraft safety. Of particular concern are the development
of facilities and infrastructure that involve objects that impinge on airspace used to
conduct flying missions. Large energy generation facilities and associated high voltage
transmission lines / supporting towers used to distribute the power can be extremely
hazardous to safe helicopter flight operations.
There are over a dozen power generation facilities located within the JLUS Project Area,
primarily natural gas fired combustion turbine or solar powered, ranging from over
500MW to less than 10MW capacity. To support power distribution, there are
transmission lines ranging in size from 500kV to 115kV connecting the power facilities to
the grid. Transmission line towers can range from 50 feet to nearly 200 feet in height
depending on the voltage and location of the power lines. As Pinal County, the State of
Arizona and the southwest U.S. continue to grow, there is a need to provide electrical
power f or residential, commercial and industrial uses. Getting the power from locations
generated to the end users will involve new transmission lines, some of which may be
located in the JLUS Project Area. Examples of potential future projects that include
power transmission lines are:
Background Report
Salt River Project Towers in
Arizona
Source: East Valley Tribune, 2018
5-35