T-7A Recapitalization
Environmental Impact Statement

Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma

About

Introduction

The Air Force is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address its proposal to recapitalize the T‑38C Talon flight training program at Vance Air Force Base (AFB) with T‑7A Red Hawk aircraft. An EIS is the most detailed analysis prescribed by regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and is a public document. Public involvement is a vital component of the NEPA process.

The Air Force published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS in the Federal Register on June 4, 2024. This proposal supports the Secretary of the Air Force's strategic basing decisions to recapitalize existing T-38C pilot training installations, and Vance AFB would be the fourth of five installations to be analyzed environmentally for possible recapitalization.

 

Background

The Air Force plans to recapitalize its T-38C fleet at the five Air Education Training Command (AETC) pilot training installations: Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)-Randolph in Texas, Columbus AFB in Mississippi, Laughlin AFB in Texas, Vance AFB in Oklahoma, and Sheppard AFB in Texas. JBSA‑Randolph was the first installation to undergo recapitalization because it provides the majority of instructor pilot training and is an Introductions to Fighter Fundamentals location. 

On January 29, 2021, the Acting Secretary of the Air Force approved the preferred sequencing and locations for the next four installations to possibly undergo T‑7A recapitalization. Acting on AETC recommendations, the Acting Secretary selected Vance AFB to be the fourth installation to be analyzed environmentally for possible recapitalization. The focus of this EIS is T-7A recapitalization at Vance AFB.

What Is Being Proposed?

Recapitalization entails the following elements:

  • Replacement of all T‑38C aircraft assigned to Vance AFB with T-7A aircraft.
  • Transition of aircraft operations at Vance AFB and associated special use airspace (SUA) from the T‑38C to the T‑7A.
  • Temporary changes to the number of personnel and dependents in the Vance AFB region. Specifically, Vance AFB and surrounding region would experience a temporary increase of approximately 100 staff and 190 dependents during the aircraft transition period of 2032 to 2034. After the aircraft transition period, the level of staffing would be approximately the same as current baseline staffing levels.
  • Construction of and upgrades to operations, support, and maintenance facilities to support pilot training and aircraft operation and maintenance. Several construction projects including military construction projects, unspecified minor military construction projects, and facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization projects would potentially occur to provide modern facilities and infrastructure to support T-7A aircraft maintenance, training, and operational requirements. These projects would include construction of a hush house pad; construction of T-7A shelters; addition to Egress Shop; installation of jet blast deflectors; and renovation to the Squad Operations facility, Ground-Based Training System Facility, and Unit Maintenance Training Facility. 

The number of T-7A aircraft, aircraft operations, and nighttime operations is evaluated as part of the Proposed Action. The Air Force is considering three reasonable action alternatives (i.e., Alternatives 1, 2, and 3) and no action. No changes to the configuration (i.e., size, shape, or location) of the SUA or airfield traffic patterns at Vance AFB would occur under the action alternatives.

Alternative 1: Vance AFB would receive up to 68 T-7A aircraft and phase in T-7A operations at a level sustaining pilot training while simultaneously phasing out the T-38C between 2032 to 2033. Operations include takeoffs, landings, the approach phase of a "touch-and-go," and the takeoff phase of a "touch-and-go." The T-38C currently performs approximately 1 percent of total operations during nighttime hours at Vance AFB. The T-7A will have a similar percentage of nighttime operations. At full implementation, up to 698 annual nighttime T-7A operations would occur at Vance AFB. T-7A operations would be limited to sub-sonic speeds in all phases of pilot training. 

Alternative 2: For Alternative 2, Vance AFB would receive up to 68 T-7A aircraft and perform T-7A operations at a level that is approximately 25 percent greater than Alternative 1.  Alternative 2 is intended to cover a scenario in which, for either broad strategic or tactical operational reasons, the Air Force requires a surge or increase in pilot training operations above current plan.  Up to 873 annual nighttime T-7A operations would occur at Vance AFB.  

Alternative 3: For Alternative 3, Vance AFB would receive up to 99 T-7A aircraft.  Alternative 3 is intended to provide the Air Force with operational flexibility, and inclusion of this alternative in this EIS provides analysis to evaluate future capacity needs.  T-7A operations would be identical to Alternative 2. Vance AFB would reach its full complement of T-7A aircraft no later than 2033, T-7A operations would reach full capacity in 2034, and T-38C operations would conclude by the end of 2033.  Annual T-7A operations at Vance AFB and associated SUA would be at a tempo that is the same as Alternative 1. However, due to the greater number of T-7A aircraft as compared to Alternative 1, the resulting T-7A operations would be approximately 45 percent greater once the aircraft transition is complete.

No Action Alternative: The No Action Alternative does not implement T-7A recapitalization at Vance AFB. It assesses the environmental consequences from taking no action and serves as a baseline to compare the environmental consequences of the Proposed Action. For the No Action Alternative, the Air Force would not implement T-7A recapitalization at Vance AFB. The existing fleet of T-38C aircraft would continue to be used in their current capacity even though they will reach the end of their service lives within the next decade and maintenance requirements would continue to increase. No changes to current flight operations would likely occur until the end of the T-38C's service life. No changes to the number of personnel and dependents would occur, and no construction would be undertaken.

FAQs

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 was enacted to address concerns about environmental quality. NEPA's main objectives are as follows:

  • Ensure that federal agencies evaluate the potential environmental impacts of proposed programs, projects, and actions before decisions are made to implement them
  • Inform the public of proposed federal activities that have the potential to affect the human environment, including the natural and physical environments
  • Encourage and facilitate public involvement in the decision-making process

NEPA requires a federal agency to analyze impacts from a proposal and its alternatives, and provides the public with opportunities to participate in the process.

An Environmental Impact Statement or EIS is a detailed public document describing a proposed action, all alternative actions that were considered, and the environmental impacts of implementing the proposed action and reasonable alternatives.

Regulations specify that an EIS be prepared when a federal agency proposes a major action with the potential to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. An EIS is required to “provide a basis of consideration and inform decisionmakers and the public of the reasonable alternatives.”

The T‑38C is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet used by the Air Force and other nations for pilot training.  The T‑38C trains airmen for various fighter and bomber aircraft, including the A‑10 Thunderbolt, B-1B Lancer, F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F‑22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II.  The Air Force's Air Education and Training Command operates the T‑38C from five pilot training installations: Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)-Randolph in Texas, Columbus AFB in Mississippi, Laughlin AFB in Texas, Vance AFB in Oklahoma, and Sheppard AFB in Texas.

The T-7A is a new type of aircraft that the Air Force will use for pilot training.  The T-7A will enable pilots to train more efficiently with modern avionics better preparing them to fly 4th and 5th generation aircraft.

The T‑38C originally was developed in the 1950s with production occurring between 1961 and 1972.  The fleet has undergone periodic upgrades over time, including in 2001 when modern avionics and upgraded propulsion components were installed to provide increased performance and superior reliability.  Nevertheless, as an older aircraft, training with the T‑38C does not adequately prepare pilots for the technological advancements of modern fourth and fifth generation [1] aircraft, including nighttime flight training.  Furthermore, T‑38C aircraft incur greater maintenance requirements as they age.  Greater maintenance issues lead to more downtime of individual aircraft, which threatens the availability of pilot training hours.  The T‑38C is expected to reach the end of its service life within the next decade.  To provide a training environment suitable for modern aircraft, the Air Force plans to recapitalize the T-38C fleet with T-7A aircraft.  The T‑7A recapitalization program will allow the Air Force to provide more efficient and effective pilot training for operating fifth generation aircraft.

 

[1] “Fourth generation aircraft” refers to those aircraft developed or manufactured with updated variants in the later part of the 20th century such as the F-15E or the F-16. “Fifth generation aircraft” refers to modern aircraft with advanced avionics developed in the early part of the 21st century such as the F-22 and F-35.

The Secretary of the Air Force has made strategic basing decisions to recapitalize existing T-38C pilot training installations. Vance AFB would be the fourth of five T-38C installations to be analyzed environmentally for possible recapitalization. The Secretary's preference was based on several factors, such as minimizing impact on continued pilot production during the transition of aircraft types, providing the most cost-efficient student production/management plan, and aligning with Air Education and Training Command's student pipeline flow for the Undergraduate Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighters Fundamentals curricula.

The Air Force published the Notice of Intent for the EIS in the Federal Register on June 4, 2024, and held two in-person public scoping meetings on June 25 and 26, 2024, where attendees could learn more about the project and submit comments.

The Air Force is now considering the input received during the public scoping process and performing the environmental analysis for the Draft EIS.  The Draft EIS is anticipated to be released to the public in 2025.

The Department of Defense has developed a guide on military noise management for communities. You may view the guide at this link.