Fort Riley ? For more than a decade, sounds from field artillery and mighty Abrams tanks have pierced the Flint Hills, confirming for residents that the Army is training.

But now, the sky is frequently filled with sights and sounds of the next generation of Fort Riley training as a new combat aviation brigade takes shape at the post’s Marshall Army Airfield.

“They probably aren’t happy this isn’t the shining airport on the hill, but they understand that people are humping to get things done,” said airfield manager Troy Mattingly.

The Pentagon announced in 2005 it was creating the brigade, bringing parts of several units from across the nation to form a contingent of 130 helicopters and more than 2,500 soldiers and aviators. They will become the aviation wing of the 1st Infantry Division, which returned from Germany in August.

While the brigade is taking shape – it now has more than 40 helicopters and 1,000 soldiers – the airfield itself isn’t in top condition. The brigade will be deploying in 2007 for a year in Iraq, giving Mattingly and his staff a better chance of getting Marshall Field up to speed.

“This is a major construction zone, where we’re trying to build an aviation brigade and get them ready to deploy to war,” he said.

Mattingly said the airfield isn’t likely to grow in size because it’s landlocked by roads on three sides and the Kansas River on the fourth. There’s little room to expand its 4,500-foot runway.

“What we have is as much as we ever will have,” Mattingly said. “We have growth constraints, so it is important that we understand that it’s an operational airfield but also a training field for the aviation brigade. We have to be judicious with our space.”

Roused from dormancy

A helicopter takes off from Marshall Army Airfield at Fort Riley. A new combat aviation brigade is taking shape at the post, creating a construction boom at the formerly dormant field and a new buzz of activity in the skies west of Manhattan.

After the Big Red One pulled up stakes in 1996, the Army dramatically curtailed activities at Marshall Field. The only resident aircraft were 15 Blackhawks used by the 82nd Medical Company and four from a flight detachment that left in 2001.

The airfield became largely dormant, with several buildings converted to other uses, including tank engine repair by the Kansas National Guard.

All those buildings are needed now – and then some. Temporary clamshell hangars with metal frames and cloth sides are going up, along with other buildings to house the brigade’s staff. The Army plans to spend $17 million to refurbish runways, taxiways and aprons that have deteriorated after years of neglect.

“You just can’t do $500 million of construction overnight,” Mattingly said. “We have only just begun. This coming summer, this place is going to be a madhouse with cement trucks.”

Along with planning for construction, Mattingly has been meeting frequently with airport managers and city managers surrounding Fort Riley, hoping to keep them informed of the changes and what precautions should be taken by civilian pilots.

Peter Van Kuren, director of the Manhattan Regional Airport, said he also has been meeting with officers in the aviation brigade to learn the scope of training and will meet with pilots using the airport. There are about 30,000 to 35,000 takeoffs and landings at Manhattan each year, he said, but that figure is likely to grow as the population grows. Currently, 38 private aircraft are housed at the airport.

More air traffic

Fort Riley doesn’t own any airspace but does have agreements with the Federal Aviation Administration to restrict access to certain areas when high-speed aircraft are training. The post notifies the FAA that the space between 7,000 and 18,000 feet will be in use, typically by F-16 or other fighter aircraft, supporting training by Fort Riley’s ground forces.

But the arrival of the aviation brigade comes with additional air traffic control centers to help military and civilian pilots. Mattingly said the biggest change for civilians will be their need to communicate with controllers at Marshall Airfield if they intend to fly over the post, so they are aware of the flight pattern.

“They aren’t going to prevent anyone from coming through here. The controlled airspace makes sure everyone is informed,” Mattingly said.