Issue:
LAS‐5
AZARNG Site: Commercial aviation activities are not
coordinated with the AZARNG.
Silverbell
Army Heliport
Commercial aviation activities such as parachute
jumping and other recreation in the JLUS Project
Area have increased in popularity in recent years.
These activities occur regularly but are not
coordinated with the AZARNG or Silverbell Army
Heliport and can impact military flight training.
Compatibility Assessment
With favorable weather conditions and 360 days a year of sun, the State of Arizona is a
mecca for outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure. Recreational and commercial air
activities in the JLUS Project Area include parachute activities, commercial sightseeing
flights, and charter aircraft flights. All these activities have the potential to conflict with
military training operations in the region, in particular the helicopter flights that originate
from SBAH and utilize the TFTA in Pinal and Pima Counties. See Figure 3‐14 in Chapter 3
of this Background Report for a map of the TFTA boundaries.
Recreational skydiving in Arizona has increased in popularity in recent years and there are
popular locations in the JLUS Project Area where thrill seekers can experience this.
Popular skydiving sites near SBAH are Skydive Arizona, which operates out of the Eloy
Municipal Airport, and Skydive Marana, which operates out of the Marana Regional
Airport. Skydive Arizona provides all types of recreational skydiving including beginner
lessons, jumps for experienced skydivers and tandem jumps for those just looking for the
experience. Skydive Arizona is one of the largest skydiving operators in the world,
operating five types of aircraft and averaging over 135,000 jumps each year. As the
frequency of skydiving activities has increased, the potential for conflicts to helicopter
training at SBAH, Picacho Peak Stagefield, and the TFTA has increased. This is partially
due to the TFTA extending over the City of Eloy, Eloy Municipal Airport, and areas where
skydive operations occur and not excluding these areas from the TFTA. The AZARNG has
noted several instances where skydiving operations have impacted military operations
due to a lack of coordination and advance notice between the AZARNG, nearby airports,
and skydive operators. Once military students at SBAH plan out a flight path for their
daily training, any uncoordinated skydiving activities or other flight activities at nearby
airports can impact the planned flight routes resulting in a failure to complete the desired
training event, or having to make last‐minute alterations to the planned event.
Helicopter tour and training providers such as Volare Helicopters operating out of the
Marana Regional Airport can also impact military activities in the TFTA. Sightseeing and
photography flights operate in areas where visual flight rules require pilots to deconflict
any flight issues. Without pre‐coordination, the AZARNG may be unaware of private
5-64
Compatibility Assessment