From Sunday, May 21st through Friday, May 26th, U.S. military aircraft will be performing training exercises over the Yakima Training Center and the Lower Yakima Valley. Community members in the Yakima area are likely to notice increased activity at the Yakima-Air Terminal-McAllister Field, where the military aircraft will be temporarily stationed, and some increase in noise levels resulting from the aircraft flying overhead.
The Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field, in conjunction with McCormick Air Center, will provide support to the military aircraft that will be conducting training exercises in the Yakima area from May 21st through May 26th. Aircraft expected to take part in the training exercises include CH-47 Chinook helicopters, which are twin-engine, tandem-rotor, heavy-lift helicopters, and a C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft.
The training exercises are expected to take place each day between May 21st and May 26th from 2:00 pm until approximately midnight. Aircraft will return to the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field each evening to prepare for the next day’s mission. The West General Aviation apron and the apron formerly used by the now-closed Noland-Decoto Flying Service, both of which are located west of the main terminal building, will be utilized by military aircraft and their crews to conduct refueling and ground handling operations throughout the week that training exercises will be going on.
The aircraft and crews are expected to depart Yakima and return to their bases of origin during the evening of Friday, May 26th.
“The Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field is proud to be able to help facilitate these important U.S. military aircraft training exercises,” said Airport Director Rob Peterson. “The Yakima community has a long history of supporting our military. While the exercises that will be going on in our area from May 21st to May 26th may result in some increased noise levels, we appreciate the patience of our community members and apologize for any temporary inconvenience that may result while the exercises are ongoing,” said Peterson.
For more information about the military aircraft training exercises that will be going on in the Yakima area from May 21st through May 26th, contact the Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field administration office at 575-6149.