Fitchburg Municipal Airport Noise Measurement Study: Summary of Measurements, Data and Analysis

The U.S. Department of Transportation, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), Environmental Measurement and Modeling Division, is providing technical support to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with the cooperation of the National Park Service (NPS), toward the development of Air Tour Management Plans (ATMPs) for all National Parks with commercial air tours. In April, May, and August 2002, the Volpe Center measured noise for seven aircraft, six of which have been identified as participating in commercial air tour operations over units of the NPS, including the Maule M-7-235C, the Piper Twin Comanche PA-30, the Piper Navajo Chieftain PA-31-350, the Piper Warrior PA-28-161, the Eurocopter EC-130 helicopter, and the Robinson R-22 helicopter. The Beech 1900D was measured as a target of opportunity for the Volpe Center’s Project supporting the development of FAA’s Integrated Noise Model. This document describes the planning and execution of the study at Fitchburg Municipal Airport in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Additionally, the data reduction procedures and data adjusted to standard conditions are presented.