[NSRCA-discussion] Example noise ordinances that work

[Tom Simes]

On Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:59:51 -0800 (PST)
Ed White <edvwhite at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> We had somewhat of an issue with noise complaints at our old flying
> field.  The noise ordinance in the area at the time was that it can be
> no higher than 85 dBA measured at the property line of the source.  A
> rough calculation indicates that an airplane that passes the pattern
> rule for noise (96 dB at 3 meters) should be below 85 dBA at anything
> more than a distance of about 40 feet from the airplane.  Pretty easy
> to live with.

Thanks for the input Ed.  My first reaction is that 85 dBA at the field
boundary is really loud!  Many communities base their ordinances on a
model ordinance published by the EPA in the 70s which in
summary recommends levels at the border of the receiving property of 60
dBA during the day and 50 dBA at night.

> But the legal allowable level for noise, and what people will complain
> about are two very different things.  Just because the neighbors can't
> show you are exceeding legal limits on noise will probably not be the
> end of the issue.

You're right on the money there, and our recent experience is that a
few mad neighbors carry much more political weight than whether you are
actually violating any codes.  Our current self imposed standard is 96
dBA over grass at 25 feet.  Presuming we can keep the field, we
obviously need to adjust that number downward to be better neighbors.
 
Does anyone have an example of a lower number that has worked for your
club at a noise sensitive field?  Testing last summer showed that with
only a couple exceptions we could drop our standard to 92 dBA and the
mix of IMAC, pattern and sport planes tested would still meet it.

Thanks

Tom
 
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Tom Simes                                       simestd at netexpress.com 
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