HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-11 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Study Session Minutes— May 11, 2015
At approximately 7:00 p.m. Mayor Laurie Gere called the Anacortes City Council study session of
May 11, 2015 to order. Roll call found present City Councilmembers Eric Johnson, Ryan Walters, Erica
Pickett, Brad Adams, Liz Lovelett, John Archibald and Matt Miller.
NAS Whidbey Flight Patterns
Mayor Gere introduced Captain Mike Nortier, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island,
and Michael Welding, NAS Whidbey Public Affairs Officer.
Captain Nortier presented a briefing on NAS Whidbey's flight patterns over Anacortes. He described the
three primary aircraft operating from Ault Field including the electronic attack EA-18G Growler(which has
largely replaced the EA-6B Prowler), the maritime patrol P-8A Poseidon (which is replacing the P-3C
Orion), and the reserve logistics C-40. Captain Nortier advised that Growler personnel assigned to NAS
Whidbey include a training squadron, nine carrier based squadrons, three expeditionary squadrons and
one reserve squadron. He invited the public to the open house on June 27 to celebrate the transition of the
last Prowler squadron to the Growler. Captain Nortier explained that the P-3 which has been flown from
NAS Whidbey since the 1960's will be replaced by the P-8 beginning in the fall of 2015 when the first
squadron arrives from Hawaii to begin training with operations scheduled to begin in March of 2017. He
said the three current active duty P-3 squadrons will eventually transition to six P-8 squadrons as the
current Hawaiian P-3 squadrons move to Whidbey Island for training on the P-8. Captain Nortier noted that
the three additional P-8 squadrons will not significantly increase overall flight operations at NAS Whidbey
because so much more of the training for the P-8 can be done in the simulator(70%vs. 7%for the P-3).
Captain Nortier explained the rationale for basing flight crews at NAS Whidbey due to the relatively
unencumbered airspace over both water and land. He shared a graphic depicting the military airspace in
the region. He described the air traffic control operated from NAS Whidbey for 2,200 square miles in the
area including but not limited to its own primary facility at Ault Field with its two intersecting runways and
the much less utilized Outlying Field Coupeville which supports field carrier landing practice and provides a
second runway. Captain Nortier said the total flights through airspace controlled by NAS Whidbey air traffic
controllers are about 150,000 annually, roughly half of that military and half civilian.
Captain Nortier explained the seasonal differences in runway use depending on the prevailing winds, with
the east/west runways 25 and 7 used more in the spring and summer and north/south runways 14 and to
a lesser extent 32 used more in the fall and winter. Ms. Lovelett asked about the air station's plan for
noise abatement. Captain Nortier said that the base tries to keep aircraft traffic either over water or over
rural or unpopulated areas to reduce the impact in the community, typically east or west when winds
allow. However, prevailing winds and runway maintenance closures control the flight patterns. He
presented a tabulation of total operations and navy operations per runway per year for last five years.
Captain Nortier also described how the number of operations fluctuates during the training regimen and
deployment rotation for each squadron.
Captain Nortier shared a graphic of the station's air tracks and discussed the noise abatement mitigations
engaged in by routing flights over water as much as possible. He noted that northern flight patterns affect
Anacortes more than the others and described the flight patterns on the N/S runway which call for pilots to
complete their landing checklist including lowering the landing gear while still over Fidalgo Island, resulting
in higher decibel levels. He summarized that wind speed and direction are really the largest factors
determining which communities are affected by aviation operations. He added that planes climb quickly
upon takeoff to mitigate impact.
Mr. Johnson shared a question from his constituents, asking why the landing base leg could not be
consistently performed over Guemes Channel. Captain Nortier observed that some flights could be routed
out that far but that would cost more fuel. He said Whidbey jets fly the shortest pattern that conditions
allow. Ms. Lovelett asked if flight operations could avoid evening hours that coincide with children's
bedtimes. Captain Nortier explained that the crews have to be able to train in all weather and daylight
Anacortes City Council Study Session Minutes May 11, 2015 1
conditions, including using night instruments and night vision devices, which can push operations late in
the evening after late summer sunsets.
Captain Nortier closed by describing mutual aid provided by NAS Whidbey Search and Rescue and also
the station's partnership in education in the local schools, providing thousands of hours of volunteer time
each year. He noted that about 10% of the children in Anacortes schools are military dependents. He
thanked Anacortes for its support.
Mr. Miller expressed his appreciation for NAS Whidbey's national defense mission and its employment of
many Anacortes residents. He inquired about flight operation effects on Deception Pass State Park.
Captain Nortier observed that Deception Park director Jack Hartt has posted signs advising park guests of
impacts from naval aviation operations but noted that the number of visits at the park continues to
increase.
Mr. Walters asked about the Navy's EIS for the new Growlers. Captain Nortier said the EIS was started in
2013 to study the potential introduction of two new expeditionary squadrons but was amended in 2014 to
study a range of other options including different squadron sizes and configurations. He said the draft EIS
would be released in the summer of 2016, be presented for public comment, and then be finalized for June
2017. The web address for the EIS is http://www.whidbeyeis.com/. Mr. Walters asked that Captain
Nortier's slide presentation be provided to the City Clerk for inclusion in the evening's Council packet. Ms.
Lovelett asked where citizens with comments or questions should be directed. Captain Nortier described
the station's active noise complaint process and invited comments via voicemail to 360-257-6665 or via
email (whdb naswi pao(cnavv.mil).
Ms. Lovelett asked about increases in personnel. Captain Nortier said there are just over 7,000 active duty
personnel at NAS Whidbey currently and the first significant personnel increase will occur when three P-8
squadrons arrive from Hawaii in the fall with about 800 additional personnel. He said after the EIS is
complete for the Growler in 2017 additional personnel may be added for a total increase of 1,000-1,800
additional active duty personnel over the next 4-5 years. He added that the Navy's planning factor is
around 2.2 dependents per active duty sailor. He said that the station is actively working with local school
districts to plan for projected enrollments and noted that base housing will not be expanded so families will
be seeking housing in the local communities.
Mr. Adams inquired about press releases regarding changes in flight activity. Captain Nortier described the
events that typically trigger press releases such as runway closures and changes in operations in
Coupeville. Mayor Gere thanked Captain Nortier for his presentation.
There being no further business, at approximately 7:40 p.m. the Anacortes City Council study session of
May 11, 2015 adjourned.
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