Delegation members ask Army to increase training at National Guard site in Pinal County

PHOENIX (AP) - Members of Arizona's congressional delegation are asking the U.S. Army to use a National Guard facility in Pinal County to meet a growing demand for training pilots who will fly U.S.-made Apache attack helicopters.

A letter signed by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally and six U.S. representatives from Arizona says expanding the Western Army Aviation Training Site would help provide foreign military sales training while also supporting the training of US. Army helicopter pilots.

According to the letter, the training requirement for AH-64s is expected to more than double in the coming years.

The training site, also known as the Silverbell Army Heliport, is located at Pinal Airpark about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Tucson.

The Arizona Army National Guard formerly had an Apache unit based at the site.