Montana Army National Guard gets a new dedicated airspace for helicopter gunnery training

The Federal Aviation Administration has established a new restricted airspace near Townsend, Montana. This area will allow the Montana Army National Guard and the 40th Helicopter Squadron to conduct aerial gunnery training.

Military units need dedicated spaces to practice with live ammunition, especially for complex operations like aerial gunnery. Establishing a restricted area like this means the unit can conduct these exercises without interfering with civilian air traffic. It provides a permanent, controlled environment for training that was likely previously done in less ideal or temporary locations.