The coming years will be marked with broad changes at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station as it prepares for new squadrons, works with the community on jet noise concerns and begins renovations throughout the base.
Capt. Mike Nortier said that the coming transitions will be made possible in part because of the ongoing support of the community.
“We certainly appreciate your support of our sailors and their families,” Nortier said.
Nortier led Thursday’s annual NAS Whidbey Island Community Leadership Forum, comprising a Navy presentation similar to the State of the Station followed by a roundtable discussion with local leadership.
Those in attendance included county, city and school leadership from Port Townsend, Skagit County and Whidbey Island.
The EIS for the P-8As has been completed and six squadrons, or 42 aircraft, will replace the existing three P-3 squadrons with 24 aircraft. Construction began this month on P-8A simulators and this will be followed by renovations and additions to the existing P-3 hangers to accommodate new aircraft, Nortier said.
The base will also bid farewell to its last EA-6B Prowler this year and hold a sunset celebration during its annual open house this summer, Nortier said. The Prowler has been replaced by the EA-18G Growlers, the number of which will be determined by the Environmental Impact Statement to be completed in 2017.
Operations Officer Cmdr. Wallace Gaber said that the base continues to try to work with resident complaints about the Growler jet noise. Complaints about low flights are investigated by recorded radar, said Gaber, who added that no Federal Aviation Administration rules have been broken except in the rare case of an emergency.
The base has expressed interest in building a “hush house,” which would muffle some of the on-ground jet engine noise, Nortier said.
And in response to complaints on Lopez Island, pilots have been instructed to keep landing gear up during touch and go operations at Ault Field until they are away from the San Juans and over the water, Gaber said.
Gaber reported that the Navy saw 825 complaints in 2013 made by 289 individual callers and 797 calls made by 283 individuals in 2014.
“What you will see is that a lot of callers are calling more than once,” Gaber said, adding that one individual called 145 times in 2014.
Despite Central Whidbey complaints, Gaber told those assembled that Outlying Field Coupeville remains essential to the training of the Growlers because of its altitude and its darkness as compared to Ault Field.
A result of the base upgrading two of its main aircraft will be improvements and changes to facilities, storage areas and equipment throughout the base, Nortier said.
Nortier said the impact of the additional sailors and their families will affect both the local economy as well as area schools.
Under its new commanding officer, the Oak Harbor Naval Hospital will also see construction on its birthing center, mental-health capabilities and out-patient facilities.
Nortier added that now that sequestration is behind them, the Navy is allowing flyovers once again, although they have allotted only 40 nationwide. Resuming the Navy’s flyover at the Oak Harbor Fourth of July celebration is a possibility, but not a certainty, he said.
