YOUR AD HERE »

Bill would replace high-altitude aircraft

Daily Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aging helicopters flown at the Army National Guard’s High-Altitude Aviation Training Site in Eagle could be replaced under legislation making its way through Congress. The bill, proposed by Eagle County congressman Mark Udall, has been approved by the House Armed Services Committee. “The training that is done at HAATS is essential to reduce the number of accidents our forces have recently experienced when operating in high mountainous areas, such as Afghanistan and Northern Iraq,” Udall said. “The training site currently uses aircraft that are being phased out this year … If the school is to continue training special operations pilots and others in the Army and Air Force, they must have modern aircraft.”HAATS is the primary site for training military pilots on operations in hostile, high altitude, and power-limited environments under all weather conditions. The training site currently uses UH-1 Huey and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. The full House is expected to vote on the bill in the coming days. Vail, Colorado


Support Local Journalism