Black Hawk Helicopter Company Planning to Relocate to Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos, Rossmoor and Seal Beach residents will have a chance today to share their opinions on plans to locate a Black Hawk helicopter company at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

The Army will hold a public workshop today at from 7 to 8 p.m. so the community can have a say about the US Army Reserve’s plans to station an eight-helicopter aviation company at the base. An environmental assessment completed on behalf of the military found that the move would have minimal impact on the community.

According to the Army, the relocation of an 87-member Army Reserve Aviation Unit from Victorville to Los Alamitos would result in roughly 15 additional flights out of the base a day. The unit would consist of 29 full-time personnel and 58 part-time reserve soldiers and eight UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

“The Proposed Action will not result in significant impacts to local communities. The additional 15 flights per week would take place using existing flight paths and during established operational hours,” According to a flyer created by the military. “Repeat violators of noise abatement flight procedures may be restricted or suspended from using the airfield. The goal of JFTB is to maintain positive relationships with surrounding communities, so it is imperative participating helicopter aircrews personally attempt to reduce the adverse impact of helicopter noise.”

The environmental assessment will be made public this week at the Rossmoor Library for a 30-day review and comment process.

In recent years, the base and the residential neighborhood surrounding it have achieved a delicate balance between the military operations and the noise concerns of the community.

"Aside from the noise concerns that some of the residents could have with this, I think it's a totally appropriate use for the base," Los Alamitos City Manager Jeff Stewart told Patch in December. "I think it is pretty cool."

In response to outreach efforts by the military, the city plans to stress the need to address noise concerns and to adhere to established flight patterns designed to minimize disruption to the community, Stewart said.

According the Army, the Black Hawk Helicopter Company would perform light helicopter maintenance and conduct flight-training operations including departure and landing exercises. The helicopters would utilize airspace and follow flight patterns already being used by fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft that train at the installation.

In recent years, the city along with many residents came out in opposition to plans to station a Los Angeles County law enforcement helicopter operation at the base because of the noise it was expected to create.

In December, neighbors along Howard Avenue, which borders the base, said they would be open to the proposal as long as the helicopters aren't overly loud or constantly overhead.

"If anyone would be affected, it would be us," said Larry Olsen, who has lived next to the base for 19 years with his wife, Jill. "I don't really have a problem with it. After living here forever, you just kind of get used to it.

"It depends on what they are going to do," added Jill Olsen. "If they are coming and going all day and night long, that would not be good."

Ben Harrison lives close to the base's landing strip.

"Our biggest concern would be if they are flying over the house or late at night," Harrison said. "But, for the most part, we're used to the noise. We knew it (the base) was here before we moved here."

The open house is from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight at the base’s Veteran's Service Center, Building 244.