By Marlee Jackson

THWOP THWOP THWOP

The deep beat of Black Hawk rotors gradually fades as Alabama farmers disembark from the helicopters, crank up their trucks and leave Fort Novosel with a special mission: Recruit landowners willing to lease pasture to the U.S. Army.

The military needs more Remote Training (RT) sites — relatively flat, cleared acreage where Army aviators practice maneuvers during flight school, said David Green.

“We are always looking for RT Sites because we need our aviators to land on non-traditional surfaces,” said Green, who works for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. “The only way we can recreate that in a training environment is through the assistance of the civilian populace, the landowners who are willing to allow us to land on their properties.”

Sixty-eight RT sites dot the fort’s 7,655-square-mile local flight area. Most cluster around the fort in Coffee and Dale counties, with others in Covington, Crenshaw, Geneva and Pike counties.

The greatest need for growth is in Barbour, Henry and Houston counties, particularly south of Dothan. Additional sites will give pilots more airspace, expand their battle preparedness and improve safety, he added.

Shortly after the visit, President Donald Trump indicated his desire to restore the fort to its original name — Fort Rucker.

Despite the fort’s changing title in recent years, one thing has remained constant: Its distinction as America’s premier training ground for U.S. Army aviators.

While the government owns a handful of RT sites, most are partnerships with community members. Lease agreements are calculated using market-value rates, and landowners are compensated for property upkeep.

Fort Novosel Community Relations Chief Chris Mendez emphasized that while the Army requires access to RT sites 24/7, 365 days a year, farm operations can continue. Some landowners raise cattle on RT sites, while others grow hay, he said.

During a tour May 22, Alabama farmers got a birds-eye view, and up-close look, at the dual use for land.

Aboard two UH-60M Black Hawks, they soared over the sprawling 63,000-acre fort and surrounding Wiregrass farm land before touching down at two RT sites.

At the first, farmers saw a lone Lakota (the Army’s primary training helicopter) manned by a pilot practicing basic warfighting in a small pasture. He was checking winds, getting his heading and finessing timing — skills that pay dividends in combat.

“He’s having a stressful day,” one soldier quipped through his headset.

During a second stop in Coffee County, cattle lolled contentedly in a tree line despite the rotors’ noise and engines’ roar. The unruffled bovine are accustomed to an influx of aviators, Mendez said.

A handful of ground markers — orange reflective caps attached to rubber tires — helped guide pilots.

Jamie Wyrosdick farms just outside of Elba, where aircraft sightings are common thanks to two nearby landing strips. Wyrosdick said he’s driven by that second site countless times, noting helicopters’ frequent use.

“I knew one was there, but I didn’t know the extent of what they did,” said Wyrosdick, the Coffee County Farmers Federation president. “Those guys are top-notch in what they do. I was completely impressed.”

Aviator exercises on RT sites include landing on uneven, sloped terrain; hovering; and using trees to practice masking or hiding from radar. Others focus on hoisting injured soldiers; delivering cargo through sling-load training; and loading troops.

Pilots generally use the sites on weekdays, from 7:30 a.m. to around midnight. Those routine disruptions underscore the necessity of site selection in rural settings away from residential areas and structures, Mendez said.

In addition to aircraft flight time, aviators train using high-tech simulators. Farmers tried their hand at those simulators following their Black Hawk tour — a small taste of pilots’ necessary dexterity in confidently maneuvering sticks and gears.

It was an unforgettable experience, said Steve Rogers, who farms in Butler County outside of Greenville.

“I enjoyed every minute of all the scenery we saw overhead – chicken farms and wheat fields and irrigation systems,” said Rogers, a veteran who trained at the fort while serving in the National Guard. “There are people around us I think this could fit pretty good. I wouldn’t mind it being on my property.”

Green said site recommendations come from citizen cold calls or pilots who sight prime land from the sky. After a thorough vetting process, new RT sites take on a critical, and simple, role in aviators’ training.

“If (land) is in our local flying area, we’re interested in it,” Green said. 

To learn more about RT sites, contact:

Paul Meissner (334) 255-9764  |  paul.e.meissner2.civ@army.mil 

David Green (334) 255-2680  |  david.w.green.civ@army.mil