RAPID CITY, S.D. – The U.S. Air Force is proposing expanding the Power River Training Complex.
Spanning the skies over North and South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, the PRTC is roughly the size of Indiana. This expansive training airspace allows Air Force pilots and crews to perform the critical training they need in conditions that closely resemble combat missions.
The 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base is the proponent for the expansion. The unit operates the B-1 Lancer, the USAF’s only supersonic all weather, day-night conventional heavy bomber.
An additional user of the PRTC would be the 5th BW at Minot AFB, North Dakota. The unit operates the B-52, a subsonic heavy bomber also capable of all weather, day-night operations. For both units, on-going aircraft upgrades, advanced munitions, next-generation air and surface threats, and evolving tactics require expanded special use airspace (SUA) to properly train aircrews.
On January 16, 2015, the Air Force completed its approval for the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC) expansion. On March 24, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed its own review, finalizing the process that makes the PRTC the largest training airspace over the continental United States.
.Meetings will be held in the following cities on the dates and location listed:
Montana:
Hardin – July 28, 2025 from 5-7 p.m: Hardin High School Commons Area (721 North Miles Ave., Hardin, MT)
Ashland – July 29, 2025 from 5-7 p.m: St. Labre Soaring Eagles Gymnasium (112 St. Labre Campus Dr., Ashland, MT)
Baker – July 30, 2025 from 5-7 p.m.: Fallon County Fairgrounds – Exhibit Hall (3440 Highway 7, Baker, MT)
North Dakota
Bowman – July 31, from 5-7 p.m.: Bowman County Fairgrounds – West Wing (12 Highway 12 E, Bowman, ND)
Elgin – Aug. 1, from 5-7 p.m.: Elgin Community Center (305 North Main St., Elgin, ND)
South Dakota
Spearfish – Aug. 11, from 5-7 p.m.: Spearfish High School – CTE Center (1725 North Main St., Spearfish, SD)
Bison – Aug. 12, from 5-7 p.m.: Bison School Gym, (200 West Carr St., Bison, SD)
Rapid City – Aug. 14, from 5-7 p.m.: Western Dakota Technical College Event Center (800 Mickelson Dr., Rapid City, SD)
Wyoming
Sundance – Aug. 13, from 5-7 p.m.: Crook County School District Gymnasium (122 State Hwy 585, Sundance, WY)
Virtual Meetings: Aug. 19, 20, and 21 (scheduled from 5-6 p.m. each day)
All in-person meetings are scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Mountain Time. The virtual meetings will be held from 5-6 p.m. Specific locations and virtual meeting registration details are available on the project website – www.PRTCairspaceEIS.com