Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO) recently proposed legislation supporting the military’s high-altitude aviation training in Colorado, backing Department of Defense (DoD) guidelines for aircraft flying over the state’s wilderness areas.
Tipton said the bill, H.R. 2347, and resolution, H.R. 440, amplify Colorado’s role in military aviation training, including training conducted at the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (HAATS), which is the DoD’s sole training school for high-altitude aviation training for rotary-wing aviators to learn how to navigate over mountainous regions safely.
“Colorado plays a critical role in providing military aviators unique environments to simulate real-world combat scenarios, and I am proud to have such an important training facility in Colorado’s Third Congressional District,” Tipton said. “HAATS in Gypsum provides necessary training for military pilots around the world, and these pieces of legislation show our support for the men and women who keep us safe.”
The DoD currently recommends military aircraft maintain an altitude of at least 2,000 ft above federally designated wilderness areas. Tipton’s bill would allow for military aircraft to deviate from the requirement, ensuring safe transit through Colorado’s mountainous wilderness areas in situations when low oxygen, icing, weather, or other mechanical issues might impact an aircraft’s ability to maintain the service level requirements.
“If we do not codify the Colorado exception into law, future administrations would be free to change the guidance at will, negatively impacting military aviation training missions in Colorado,” Tipton said. “It is important for our men and women in uniform conducting aviation training in Colorado to have certainty and stability.”