Noise Abatement advice for Skydiving
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Noise Abatement advice for Skydiving
There is increasing difficulty with the neighbouring community in Wiltshire UK due their intolerance of the noise from the engine of the parachuting plane. As it has to get to height using max continuous power, options are limited. Any advice welcome and all ideas will be considered.
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Doesn't bother me but the skydive plane near to us can be noisy. And in summer can go on until pretty late in the evening so I can understand where some people are coming from when they complain about the noise.
I live to the north of the field and last year was a good few miles to the south of the field. It seemed to be taking an alternative on each departure, one south then one North which limited the impact of the noise. Whereas previously it seemed to fly over my town every drop.
There's not a great deal you can do unfortunately apart from avoiding the same places over and over again or climbing over the places with the least population, or fewest complainers should I say.
Bit drastic but maybe another type? Some summers they have used a turbine which was better (looked like a Cessna Caravan). The AirVan was the worst by far making a significant din even at what would appear to be 7-8,000' but the year round C182 can be fairly noisy too.
Not done para dropping before so not the best qualified. Hopefully someone will come up with something more meaningful
I live to the north of the field and last year was a good few miles to the south of the field. It seemed to be taking an alternative on each departure, one south then one North which limited the impact of the noise. Whereas previously it seemed to fly over my town every drop.
There's not a great deal you can do unfortunately apart from avoiding the same places over and over again or climbing over the places with the least population, or fewest complainers should I say.
Bit drastic but maybe another type? Some summers they have used a turbine which was better (looked like a Cessna Caravan). The AirVan was the worst by far making a significant din even at what would appear to be 7-8,000' but the year round C182 can be fairly noisy too.
Not done para dropping before so not the best qualified. Hopefully someone will come up with something more meaningful
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Obviously, I have no sympathy with anyone who moves into a home near an airfield and then complains about noise.
There is also a problem with noise measuring. Aircraft have their sound levels measured and recorded on a 'noise' certificate. 'Noise' is unwanted sound.
Most people thought the 3 bladed turboprop I was flying was less noisy than the 4 bladed turboprop also in use at a skydiving field in Germany. The fact was simply that the lower frequency of the 3 blades was less irritating than the higher pitch of the 4 blades. The noise certificate said the 3 blades were noisier then 4.
My SOP for dropping from 14,000 was to take off and turn to a heading and fly in a straight line to 7-8000 and then turn back to line up on the jump line. Descent was always just a spiral following or close to the circuit.
On the subsequent lifts I would adjust the outbound climb heading by 100 degrees each time so spreading and minimising the exposure as much as possible.
If the straight line is limited by airspace, you just fly out to the limit of your space and fly along it before turning back.
Neighbours and visitors were mostly grateful for the consideration.
Furthermore, there was never any cause for max power take-offs. I'd always wind the prop back to climb power as I lined up on the runway.
There is also a problem with noise measuring. Aircraft have their sound levels measured and recorded on a 'noise' certificate. 'Noise' is unwanted sound.
Most people thought the 3 bladed turboprop I was flying was less noisy than the 4 bladed turboprop also in use at a skydiving field in Germany. The fact was simply that the lower frequency of the 3 blades was less irritating than the higher pitch of the 4 blades. The noise certificate said the 3 blades were noisier then 4.
My SOP for dropping from 14,000 was to take off and turn to a heading and fly in a straight line to 7-8000 and then turn back to line up on the jump line. Descent was always just a spiral following or close to the circuit.
On the subsequent lifts I would adjust the outbound climb heading by 100 degrees each time so spreading and minimising the exposure as much as possible.
If the straight line is limited by airspace, you just fly out to the limit of your space and fly along it before turning back.
Neighbours and visitors were mostly grateful for the consideration.
Furthermore, there was never any cause for max power take-offs. I'd always wind the prop back to climb power as I lined up on the runway.
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Engine noise from climbing skydiving plane
The airfield location is Redlands near Swindon, but most of the complaints are coming from surrounding villages under the climb routes than from the residents close to the airfield who only hear a take off a few times each hour of the day.
Since Lyneham closed, new climb routes are used so that more villages are under the plane as it climbs slowly on max continuous power through the 1,000 to 6,000-10,000feet band ....and the noise footprint is widespread. Many more people are having to listen to it for longer than ever before, ...and they want their peace and quiet back so they can enjoy their BBQs, sports events and other outdoor activities.
We are looking for constructive suggestions and ideas on how other skydive planes are flown that manages to minimise their noise output and simultaneously keep their neighbourhood happy.
At present while the pleasure seeking of a few hundred parachutists and the legitimate business interests of the operators are being satisfied, it is at the price of noise discomfort to thousands of other residents of the local and surrounding areas.
Since Lyneham closed, new climb routes are used so that more villages are under the plane as it climbs slowly on max continuous power through the 1,000 to 6,000-10,000feet band ....and the noise footprint is widespread. Many more people are having to listen to it for longer than ever before, ...and they want their peace and quiet back so they can enjoy their BBQs, sports events and other outdoor activities.
We are looking for constructive suggestions and ideas on how other skydive planes are flown that manages to minimise their noise output and simultaneously keep their neighbourhood happy.
At present while the pleasure seeking of a few hundred parachutists and the legitimate business interests of the operators are being satisfied, it is at the price of noise discomfort to thousands of other residents of the local and surrounding areas.
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Thanks fa2fi for those ideas. Not sure what plane is used (looks like a Skyvan or Gippvan) but current one while being very noisy is a lot quieter than an old Russian machine used initially. Your idea on route variations has merit, thanks.
Hi Vasco, I visited Redlands during the summer last year and the Parachutists were being dropped from the Airvan mentioned by fa2fi. I don't know if it is owned or leased in for the summer season only. There used to be (maybe 10 years ago) a Scandinavian reg Turbo Beaver operating in the UK and this seemed to be reasonable noise wise.
Vary the route to altitude, reduce to climbed power asap, even on runway of long enough, time run in to be at spot at altitude ( obvious.) Perhaps try to engage locals with open day, perhaps with free tandem via lottery ticket, free demo into local fair bla, bla. If that doesn't work, just carry on regardless
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Spread the noise about is the best advice I can give. When doing so, remember the effects of wind. Spiral climbs every flight should also be avoided. If possible, climb on straight tracks, and calculate the DP before arrival so you can get in and out before the moaners realise you are there. But overall, the best step you can take is to get a plane with a really good climb performance, and that means a turbo-prop.
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As already said... spread the noise. Personally I fly jumpers with the C182TRG. In the beginning we had some problems with noise complaints but after we got the 3 blade prop and added the procedure to reduce RPM to 2300 at 500 ft and keep it there until passing 4000, no complaints at all.
Have fun!
Have fun!
