Environmental Assessment for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper Unmaned Aircraft System (UAS) Second Formal Training Unit (FTU-2) Beddown

The U.S. Air Force, Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC), proposes to stand-up a second Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Formal Training Unit (FTU-2) and relocate the existing FTU currently operated at Creech Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, to another location. The beddown will consist of 38 MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAS aircraft and up to 800 personnel (600 permanent and 200 students). The proposed action would also involve construction and renovation of facilities to support the beddown. Three alternatives, including the No Action Alternative, were analyzed in detail in the environmental assessment (EA). Under either of the two action alternatives, five squadrons, consisting of 200 officers and 250 enlisted member permanent party personnel, would beddown at the installation, supported by 150 contractor personnel. The 200 students would cycle through in 3 month periods. One of the five squadrons would be a Maintenance squadron. The force structure would consist of 38 aircraft comprised of 28 MQ-1 s and 1 0 MQ-9s. There would be 12 Ground Control Stations (GCS) and two Primary Predator Satellite Links. There would be approximately 2,880 sorties per year based on three flying squadrons, of which approximately 480 sorties out of the 2,880 sorties would be conducted at night. This is based on a week of night training (M-F) held every 6 weeks. The day training schedule would be from 0700 to 2200 hours, while the night training would be held from 2200 to 0700 hours. Live and inert munitions would be used on established training ranges that have been authorized to receive the types of munitions expected to be used by the MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircraft. Prepared in collaboration with USACE, Sacramento District and Gulf South Research, New Orleans.