Military Mission and Operations
Silverbell Army Heliport is one of the Army’s premier aviation training locations and
serves as the AZARNG’s primary aviation facility. Its mission is to conduct individual‐ and
unit‐level aviation training, operate regional aviation simulation facilities, and provide
aviation support operations for the Army, the State of Arizona, and international military
customers. More than 300 helicopter pilots from the National Guard, Active Duty Army,
and Army Reserves are trained at SBAH annually.
One of the AZARNG’s two AASFs (AASF #2) is located at SBAH. The other one (AASF #1) is
located at Papago Park Military Reservation in Phoenix. The primary function of the AASF
is to maintain flight proficiency for AZARNG pilots through training. Most AZARNG pilots
must fly between 86 to 110 hours annually. The AASF also provides aviation support,
including hoist and fire bucket operations, as required by the Adjutant General and the
Governor to support state emergency management operations. In support of the
AZARNG’s federal mission, AASF units must provide aviation support to airlift and combat
operations whenever called into service by the President. Other major activities
supported by the AASF include refueling, maintenance, and repair of aircraft and ground
vehicles.
Silverbell Army Heliport is home to the WAATS, which provides year‐round training to all
Army National Guard rotary wing units west of the Mississippi River. The eastern
counterpart to the WAATS is the Eastern Army Aviation Training Site, located at
Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania.
Helicopter training is conducted in the 3,600‐square mile Tactical Flight Training Area
that allows low level flights, nap of the earth terrain flights, emergency procedure
simulation, air‐to‐air combat training, and tactical and dust environment landing zones in
designated areas. Much of the Tactical Flight Training Area is outside the JLUS Project
Area. To the extent possible, low level overflight above populated areas is avoided to
minimize disturbances to people and animals. The nearby semi‐mountainous terrain
provides ideal tactical flight training as well and allows instructors to maximize their
efforts without loss of time due to traveling far away from their starting location (SBAH).
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Arizona Army National Guard Profile