SILVERBELL ARMY HELIPORT
Silverbell Army Heliport is a 160-acre installation located approximately three miles northwest of the Town of Marana . It 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 for UH-72 Lakota and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters , 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 Silverbell Army Heliport annually .
Silverbell Army Heliport is home to the Western Army Aviation Training Site , which provides year-round training to all Army National Guard rotary wing units west of the Mississippi River . 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 .
Military Compatibility Areas
The MCAOD for Silverbell Army Heliport is composed of three MCAs .
Land Use MCA
The Land Use MCA is composed of all current parcels with 25 percent of their land area located within a ½ mile of the boundary of Silverbell Army Heliport . Strategies associated with this MCA are related to land use planning , real estate disclosures , including notes on platting documents , and educating surrounding property owners about military operations in the area . It is further recommended that this MCA serve as a notification area by the jurisdictions to the AZARNG on proposed developments . Future development within this MCA should be characterized by lower density / intensity uses , such as one dwelling unit per acre for residential developments , with ordinances promoting uses that are compatible with military activities .
Airfield Safety MCA
The Airfield Safety MCA includes all land outside the installation boundaries within the clear zone ( CZ ) and accident potential zone ( APZ ) associated with the helicopter landing pads . This MCA is intended to help prevent the development of incompatible land uses in areas with the greatest potential for an aircraft mishap . The MCA includes two subzones . Subzone A includes all land outside the installation boundary within the CZs . Within the CZ , most land uses are incompatible with aircraft operations . It is recommended that no development be located there . Subzone B includes all land outside the installation boundary within the APZs . Compatibility guidelines recommend land uses that congregate or cluster people , such as residences , apartments , churches , and schools not be constructed within the APZs .
Airfield Obstructions MCA
The Airfield Obstructions MCA includes all land outside the installation boundaries within the imaginary surfaces around the helicopter landing pads . The purpose of the Airfield Obstructions MCA is to manage the height of all structures and buildings within the imaginary surfaces . The imaginary surfaces are 3-D geographic areas comprising approach-departure airspace corridors and safety buffers . This MCA has two subzones . Subzone A is composed of the existing and potential approach-departure clearance surfaces for the landing lanes . Subzone A begins as inclined planes at the end of the primary surface and extends for 1,200 feet . Subzone B is composed of the transitional surfaces for the landing lanes . The transitional surface starts at the lateral edges of the primary surface and the approach-departure clearance surface . It continues outward and upward to an elevation of 150 feet above the helipad elevation .
Key Recommendations
The following are key recommendations to address compatibility issues around Silverbell Army Heliport .
Coordination / Communication
• Develop a Memorandum of Agreement to formalize communication policies and / or operational update notification procedures .
• Establish a partnership between the AZARNG and local airport operators and users to coordinated activities in shared airspace .
Land / Air Space Competition
• Explore the possibility of recording aviation notices with property owners .
• Document the Tactical Flight Training Area in the Federal Register .
• Form partnerships with local airport operators and commercial air recreational organizations .
• Support a joint air traffic control tower for Pinal Airpark and Marana Regional Airport .
• Consult with Arizona Game and Fish Department regarding flight and landing plans .
Land Use
• Develop a 3-D modeling tool of the imaginary surfaces at Silverbell Army Heliport and Pinal Airpark that can be used to determine structure heights on land within the imaginary surfaces .
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