Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Air Force: Nevada exercise expected to produce extra aircraft noise

The U.S. Air Force has said southern Nevada residents can expect increased aircraft noise from a scheduled training exercise that will involve nearly 100 aircraft, with nighttime takeoffs planned to allow air crews to train for combat operations conducted at night.

Nellis Air Force Base officials said Red Flag 22-1 will run from Monday to Feb. 11 over the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas.

According to Nellis officials, the exercise will involve more than a dozen aircraft types with the 388th Fighter Wing from Hill Air Force Base in Utah playing a prominent role in the exercise.

The announcement said the exercise “gives aircrews an opportunity to experience advanced, relevant, and realistic combat-like situations in a controlled environment to increase their ability to complete missions and safely return home."

“It also prepares maintenance personnel, ground controllers, space and cyber operators to support those missions within the same tactical environment," the statement added.