NAS Whidbey Carrier Training Jan 19-25: Low-Altitude Flights Near OLF, Ault Field

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island began carrier-based flight training operations for the week of Jan. 19-25, 2026, producing periods of concentrated aircraft activity at Outlying Landing Field (OLF) Coupeville and Ault Field. The training is part of regular carrier aviation readiness work conducted from the NAS Whidbey complex, and the operations are expected to involve lower-altitude profiles as aircraft work in and around the local airfields.

Ault Field operates 24 hours a day, and the base reiterated that flight schedules can change with weather or aircraft maintenance. The installation published a day-by-day summary of carrier-based training windows affecting OLF Coupeville and Ault Field for the Jan. 19-25 period and said it will try to notify the community if additional time periods are added to the published schedule. Islanders should expect that planned windows may shift and occasional extra sorties can occur outside listed times.

For residents, the practical effects are increased noise and visible low-altitude overflights concentrated near the airfields. That can affect outdoor activities, schoolyards, livestock and sensitive wildlife habitats near the OLF and Ault Field corridors. Concentrated training windows can also create short periods of repeated noise rather than isolated events, a distinction that matters for residents tracking disturbance patterns across the week.

The Navy maintains a community comment line for flight and noise concerns. Island County residents can send noise and flight feedback to NASWI_Noise_Comments@us.navy.mil. The base guidance also lists a phone contact for community concerns. The installation has indicated it will use those channels to gather community input and to push notifications when operations are expanded beyond published windows.

Policy and institutional context is relevant to local accountability. NAS Whidbey’s operational tempo, including 24-hour capability at Ault Field, means training is an ongoing presence rather than a one-off event. Transparency about schedule changes and timely community notification help residents plan and provide feedback; continued civic engagement through the Navy comment line supports that flow of information between the base and Island County communities.

Expect similar carrier and readiness operations throughout the year. For the immediate week of Jan. 19-25, monitor base notifications and use the Navy comment line for concerns about noise or flight patterns so county officials and the installation can account for community impacts going forward.