Whidbey Island Naval Air Station has announced its plans to resume flight operations at Outlying Landing Field Coupeville in January.

While the actual start date is not been set, the Navy will resume its practice of releasing practice schedules a week in advance for community planning purposes, said Mike Welding, public affairs officer for NAS Whidbey.

Residents living in Coupeville and around the OLF should anticipate an increase in jet noise due to pilots conducting field carrier landing practice in preparation for combat deployments around the world, said Navy officials in a press release issued Tuesday.

The landing practice frequency is determined by Fleet Replacement Squadron student training curriculum and pre-deployment carrier EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler squadron flight qualifications, the Navy said in its release.

Schedules can fluctuate due to weather, maintenance and operational requirements, the Navy said.

EA-6B and EA-18G flight operations for both Ault Field and OLF Coupeville will be consistent with a 2005 Environmental Assessment for the EA-18G, with annual operations projected at 6,120 flight operations at OLF Coupeville, Navy officials said.

Comments, including noise complaints, can be directed to NAS Whidbey’s comment line at 360-257-6665, or via e-mail to comments.NASWI@navy.mil

All other questions can be directed to NAS Whidbey public affairs office at 360-257-2286.