Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
About
Introduction
The Air Force has prepared the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address its proposal to recapitalize the T‑38C Talon flight training program at Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB) with T‑7A Red Hawk aircraft. An EIS is the most detailed analysis prescribed by regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and is a public document. Public involvement is a vital component of the NEPA process.
The Air Force published a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft EIS in the Federal Register on December 19, 2025. The NOA initiated the 45-day public comment period for the Draft EIS. This proposal supports the Secretary of the Air Force's strategic basing decisions to recapitalize existing T-38C pilot training installations, and Sheppard AFB would be the fifth of five installations to be analyzed environmentally for possible recapitalization.
Background
The Air Force plans to recapitalize its T-38C fleet at the five Air Education Training Command (AETC) pilot training installations: Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)-Randolph in Texas, Columbus AFB in Mississippi, Laughlin AFB in Texas, Vance AFB in Oklahoma, and Sheppard AFB in Texas. JBSA‑Randolph was the first installation to undergo recapitalization because it provides the majority of instructor pilot training and is an Introductions to Fighter Fundamentals location.
On January 29, 2021, the Acting Secretary of the Air Force approved the preferred sequencing and locations for the next four installations to possibly undergo T‑7A recapitalization. Acting on AETC recommendations, the Acting Secretary selected Sheppard AFB to be the fifth installation to be analyzed environmentally for possible recapitalization. The focus of this EIS is
T-7A recapitalization at Sheppard AFB.
What Is Being Proposed?
Recapitalization entails the following elements:
- Replacement of all T‑38C aircraft assigned to Sheppard AFB with T-7A aircraft.
- Transition of aircraft operations at Sheppard AFB and associated special use airspace (SUA) from the T‑38C to the T‑7A.
- Temporary changes to the number of personnel and dependents in the Sheppard AFB region. Specifically, Sheppard AFB and the surrounding region would experience a temporary increase of approximately 100 staff and 190 dependents during the aircraft transition period of 2033 to 2036. After the aircraft transition period, the level of staffing would be approximately the same as current baseline staffing levels.
- Construction of and upgrades to operations, support, and maintenance facilities to support pilot training and aircraft operation and maintenance. Several renovation and construction projects would potentially occur to provide modern facilities and infrastructure to support T-7A aircraft maintenance, training, and operational requirements. These projects would include construction of new Ground-Based Training System facility, Maintenance Hangar/Unit Maintenance Training facility, hush house, and ramp extension; replacing aircraft shelters and supporting infrastructure; construct an addition to an existing facility; installing jet blast deflectors on the airfield; reconfiguring the airfield and install new mooring points; renovating operations building; interior renovations of two buildings; preparing existing aircraft pavement for compass rose and trim pad; constructing a concrete pad and provide utilities for a storage container; and expanding the existing hammerhead paved area. In total, the proposed construction projects would disturb up to 3.7 acres and occur under all three action alternatives.
The number of T-7A aircraft, aircraft operations, and nighttime operations is evaluated as part of the Proposed Action. The Air Force is considering three reasonable action alternatives (i.e., Alternatives 1, 2, and 3) and no action. Minor changes to aircraft altitudes in the SUA surrounding Sheppard AFB/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport may occur, but in general, the footprint of airfield traffic patterns would remain similar to patterns currently flown by the T-38C. All routine T-38C and T-7A traffic would use runways in the manner currently used. T-7A pilot training would use the same SUA used currently by the T-38C. No changes to the configuration
(i.e., size, shape, or location) of the SUA or their active times are proposed for T-7A recapitalization. Except where specified in the existing training syllabus, and in accordance with applicable letters of authorization, T-7A aircraft would be limited to sub-sonic speeds in all phases of pilot training.
Alternative 1: Sheppard AFB would receive up to 108 T-7A aircraft and phase in T-7A operations at a level sustaining pilot training while simultaneously phasing out the T-38C between 2034 and 2036. In total, all 131 T-38C aircraft assigned to Sheppard AFB would be withdrawn from Sheppard AFB. On a per aircraft basis, the T-7A would perform the same number of operations as the current T-38C, but on an installation-wide basis, total annual T-7A operations would be approximately 31,400 fewer than current
T-38C operations because 23 fewer aircraft would be assigned to the installation. Operations include takeoffs, landings, the approach phase of a "touch-and-go," and the takeoff phase of a "touch-and-go." The T-38C currently performs nighttime operations at Sheppard AFB. At full implementation, up to 1,214 annual nighttime T-7A operations would occur at Sheppard AFB, which is less than 1 percent of the total annual daytime and nighttime T-7A operations. T-7A operations would be limited to sub-sonic speeds in all phases of pilot training.
Alternative 2: For Alternative 2, Sheppard AFB would receive up to 108 T-7A aircraft and perform T-7A operations at a level that is approximately 25 percent greater than Alternative 1. Alternative 2 is intended to cover a scenario in which, for either broad strategic or tactical operational reasons, the Air Force requires a surge or increase in pilot training operations above current plan. Up to 1,518 annual nighttime T-7A operations would occur at Sheppard AFB.
Alternative 3: For Alternative 3, Sheppard AFB would receive up to 131 T-7A aircraft. Alternative 3 is intended to provide the Air Force with operational flexibility, and inclusion of this alternative in this EIS provides analysis to evaluate future capacity needs.
T-7A operations would occur at a level that is approximately 21 percent greater than Alternative 1 and equal to baseline operations. Sheppard AFB would reach its full complement of T-7A aircraft no later than 2037, T-7A operations would reach full capacity in 2037, and T-38C operations would conclude by the end of 2036. Annual daytime and nighttime T-7A operations at Sheppard AFB would be at a tempo that is the same as baseline operations.
No Action Alternative: The No Action Alternative does not implement T-7A recapitalization at Sheppard AFB. It assesses the environmental consequences from taking no action and serves as a baseline to compare the environmental consequences of the Proposed Action. For the No Action Alternative, the Air Force would not implement T-7A recapitalization at Sheppard AFB. The existing fleet of T-38C aircraft would continue to be used in their current capacity even though they will reach the end of their service lives within the next decade and maintenance requirements would continue to increase. The number and types of T-38C aircraft operations would remain the same, consistent with the current training curriculum and operations. The SUA for T-38C operations would continue to be used at the same tempo and in a similar manner. No construction or renovation projects would be undertaken to support the T-7A program at Sheppard AFB.
FAQs
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 was enacted to address concerns about environmental quality. NEPA's main objectives are as follows:
- Ensure that federal agencies evaluate the potential environmental impacts of proposed programs, projects, and actions before decisions are made to implement them
- Inform the public of proposed federal activities that have the potential to affect the human environment, including the natural and physical environments
- Encourage and facilitate public involvement in the decision-making process
NEPA requires a federal agency to analyze impacts from a proposal and its alternatives, and provides the public with opportunities to participate in the process.
An Environmental Impact Statement or EIS is a detailed public document describing a proposed action, all alternative actions that were considered, and the environmental impacts of implementing the proposed action and reasonable alternatives.
Regulations specify that an EIS be prepared when a federal agency proposes a major action with the potential to significantly affect the quality of the human environment. An EIS is required to “provide a basis of consideration and inform decisionmakers and the public of the reasonable alternatives.”
The T‑38C is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet used by the Air Force and other nations for pilot training. The T‑38C trains airmen for various fighter and bomber aircraft, including the A‑10 Thunderbolt, B-1B Lancer, F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F‑22 Raptor, and F-35 Lightning II. The Air Force's Air Education and Training Command operates the T‑38C from five pilot training installations: Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)-Randolph in Texas, Columbus AFB in Mississippi, Laughlin AFB in Texas, Vance AFB in Oklahoma, and Sheppard AFB in Texas.
The T-7A is a new type of aircraft that the Air Force will use for pilot training. The T-7A will enable pilots to train more efficiently with modern avionics better preparing them to fly 4th and 5th generation aircraft.
The T‑38C originally was developed in the 1950s with production occurring between 1961 and 1972. The fleet has undergone periodic upgrades over time, including in 2001 when modern avionics and upgraded propulsion components were installed to provide increased performance and superior reliability. Nevertheless, as an older aircraft, training with the T‑38C does not adequately prepare pilots for the technological advancements of modern fourth and fifth generation[1] aircraft, including nighttime flight training. Furthermore, T‑38C aircraft incur greater maintenance requirements as they age. Greater maintenance issues lead to more downtime of individual aircraft, which threatens the availability of pilot training hours. The T‑38C is expected to reach the end of its service life within the next decade. To provide a training environment suitable for modern aircraft, the Air Force plans to recapitalize the T-38C fleet with T-7A aircraft. The T‑7A recapitalization program will allow the Air Force to provide more efficient and effective pilot training for operating fifth generation aircraft.
[1] “Fourth generation aircraft” refers to those aircraft developed or manufactured with updated variants in the later part of the 20th century such as the F-15E or the F-16. “Fifth generation aircraft” refers to modern aircraft with advanced avionics developed in the early part of the 21st century such as the F-22 and F-35.
The Secretary of the Air Force has made strategic basing decisions to recapitalize existing T-38C pilot training installations. Sheppard AFB would be the fifth of five T-38C installations to be analyzed environmentally for possible recapitalization. The Air Force evaluated each of the five installations using criteria that included mission factors (e.g., weather, ability to meet syllabus requirements), infrastructure capacity, and potential environmental constraints and costs.
The Air Force published the Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft EIS in the Federal Register on December 19, 2025. Publication of the NOA initiated the 45-day public comment period for the Draft EIS.
Comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted through February 2, 2026.
The Department of Defense has developed a guide on military noise management for communities. You may view the guide at this link.