Military flight training scheduled at Honolulu airport through end of January, flight delays possible

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation advises air travelers of potential flight delays due to military aircraft taking off and landing at Honolulu’s airport as part of the Sentry Aloha fighter exercise.

Sentry Aloha is an ongoing series of exercises hosted by the Hawai‘i Air National Guard’s 154th Wing enabling tailored, cost-effective, and realistic combat training for Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force, and other Department of Defense services.

During the exercise, the Federal Aviation Administration may implement ground stops due to the increased military aircraft activity, which could impact travel schedules for flights at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, Kahului Airport and potentially Lῑhuʻe Airport.

The training, which will continue till Jan. 31, provides U.S. warfighters with the skill sets necessary to perform homeland defense and overseas combat missions, according to a press release from the state Department of Defense. 

Sentry Aloha exercises have been conducted for more than 20 years. This iteration of the exercise will involve approximately 712 personnel and 46 aircraft from two states and one additional participating country. 

Visiting units include the F-35 Lightning II from Air Test & Evaluation Squadron NINE, Detachment Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., (VX-9 Det Edwards), F/A-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers from Air Test & Evaluation Squadron NINE China Lake, Calif., (VX-9 China Lake), and E-7A Wedgetail aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force. The visiting aircraft will participate in simulated combat exercises with the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons’ Hickam-based ‘Hawaiian Raptors.’ 

Passengers are advised to check with their airline for information specific to their flight during the training period.