Photo By 1st Lt. Wes Parrell | State and Federal civic leaders tour the Army National Guard Western Army Aviation...... read more read more
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Marana, Ariz. – Tucked away in a remote desert location just southwest of the I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson off exit 232 sits Pinal Airpark, home to the Silverbell Army Heliport and one of the most exclusive schools in Army aviation.
Established in 1986, the Army National Guard Western Army Aviation Training Site, or WAATS, is one of only four Army National Guard aviation-training sites in the nation. The WAATS schoolhouse provides the Army with the flexibility to both compliment and supplement existing Army aviation training in support of the national warfighting objective.
“When I commissioned and was looking into aviation schools in 1994, I was told that the WAATS is where I wanted to attend to receive the training I was looking for,” said Col. James A. Caruso II, WAATS Brigade commander. “Now 22 years later I have returned as the commander to uphold the standards and legacy of excellence that the WAATS is known for.”
Three decades ago, the WAATS infrastructure began as only a few small buildings and a runway. Today the facility has grown to encompass a 725-acre footprint of the heliport, complete with state-of-the-art simulators and training facilities. It also operates a 300-acre off site training location, consisting of four 1,500-foot lanes, an air traffic control station, and on-site crash rescue facility.
With the most current of available technologies, the WAATS trains pilots for the UH- 60A/L Blackhawk and UH-72A Lakota, and provides a multitude of Aviation enlisted qualification and professional development courses.
In June, the WAATS unveiled a first-of-its-kind Virtual Maintenance Trainer for the UH-72A Light Helicopter Repairer Course. Consisting of 12 workstations, the VMT allows students to become familiar with and practice maintenance tasks prior to ever opening a door or hatch on the physical aircraft.
The repair course provides instruction on 66 essential maintenance tasks. By leveraging technology and learner-centric teaching strategies, the VMT provides a familiar digital platform that connects with the new generation of Soldiers.
As the only UH-72A Light Helicopter virtual trainer in the department of defense, it supports the training program for maintainers throughout the Army National Guard, and is being looked at as the model for future maintenance trainers for other airframes within the military arsenal.
“Facilities like these and the quality of training received at this schoolhouse is what makes us such a desired destination for our future pilots and maintainers,” Caruso said.
Since 2001, nearly 10,000 service members have graduated from programs instructed at the WAATS. This does not include service members from 15 foreign militaries that have been hosted for training here since the WAATS inception.
The success of the WAATS comes in part from the infrastructure of the Arizona National Guard, the site location and the community as a whole. In turn, the missions supported by Silverbell Army Heliport in Marana, provide nearly $56 million to local economies.
Sharing location with the 98th Aviation Troop Command, the schoolhouse has access to a full spectrum of combat-proven aviators and maintainers to serve as schoolhouse cadre and instructor resources.
“Our pilots, maintainers, air traffic controllers, and support staff are able to contribute their real world experience to complement the military theories and best practices taught at the WAATS,” said Col. D. Lee Winningham, commander of the 98th ATC and State Army Aviation Officer.
With over 300 days a year of optimal flying weather and access to significant land for the development of ranges and unrestricted air space, makes Arizona an ideal location to establish aviation-training sites.
The geographic composition across the state of Arizona provides the optimal training ground for military aviation. With a blend of desert and mountainous terrain features, pilots are provided the opportunity to train in conditions that closely resemble the regions they may operate in during missions around the globe.
With most of the populous of Arizona consolidated into only a handful of metropolitan areas, military assets enjoy prime access to restricted airspace and ranges. The Barry M. Goldwater Range, which is roughly the size of New Jersey, offers highly flexible joint service training, realistic combat replications, and air-to-air and air-to-ground training. The 1.7 million-acre ranges offers 57,000 cubic miles of airspace that is in the shared backyard of Arizona’s military installations, making it quickly accessible and a cost-savings for both flight and man-hours.
“With the 30 years of proven success and developed infrastructure, there is no better place for the WAATS mission to be conducted,” Caruso said. “We are poised to continue the development of our program and advance further Arizona’s contribution to the Army’s aviation mission capabilities and strength.”
| Date Taken: | 10.19.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2016 22:18 |
| Story ID: | 213038 |
| Location: | MARANA, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,553 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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