Noise Program

Foreword
The Manassas Regional Airport is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Airport is also designated as a reliever airport to Dulles International, one of the busiest air carrier airports in the Commonwealth. The Airport is located in Prince William County with heavy residential areas in the vicinity of the airport and 16 miles to the south southwest of Dulles International, It is the policy of the Manassas Regional Airport to promote the following Voluntary Good Neighbor Noise Abatement Program in order for the Airport to continue its role as a vital part of the local community. This program is intended to be considerate of the Airport’s residential neighbors while balancing the operational needs of the airport users and tenants.

Disclaimer
This program is completely voluntary, but it is strongly encouraged that this be followed in order to create a friendlier environment for those residential neighbors of the airport. This document will reference this program as “noise abatement” even though it is considered voluntary.

Section 1 - Flight Training
Flight instructors should teach their students of these noise abatement procedures, including pilots which are taken up for biennial flight reviews. Noise abatement procedures should be included as part of flight training instruction. Be aware of the noise sensitive areas depicted, and point them out while riding with your students. Make sure that your students fly at the recommended pattern altitude as noted in the most recent version of the Airport Facility Directory (AFD); 1,200 FT. MSL for single and light twins, 1,500 FT MSL for medium twins and turboprop, and 1,000 FT MSL for helicopter. Ensure to practice maneuvers over unpopulated areas at recommended safe altitudes and use various practice areas in order to minimize noise exposure to surrounding communities. Full-stop taxi-backs should be considered when performing pattern work to reduce the fluctuations in engine noise.

Section 2 - Fixed Wing Flight Operations
Familiarize yourself with the location of noise sensitive areas, particularly the Great Oaks subdivision located to the east across the Route 234 Bypass, the Moor Green Estates neighborhood located to the south of the Airport in the approach path of Runway 34R, and the residential neighborhoods of the Nokesville area to the west and southwest.

Section 3 - Arrival & Departures Procedures
If the Airport is in a north operation: Outbound traffic shall stay north of the railroad tracks at an altitude of 2,300 FT MSL. The inbound traffic shall stay south of the railroad tracks at an altitude of 2,000 FT MSL.

Section 4 - Helicopter Operators
Unless in conflict with the Control Tower’s instructions, helicopter traffic should climb to a pattern altitude of 1,000 FT MSL. prior to crossing the Airport boundary. When approaching the Airport, maintain as high an altitude as practical and conduct as much of your decent within the Airport boundary as allowed by safe flight operations. When possible, over fly industrial areas, rail & utility corridors and roadways so as to avoid direct over flight of residential areas. When operating in the helicopter traffic pattern, maintain an altitude a high as possible and avoid over flying residential areas. If allowed by your flight profile and traffic conditions (i.e. low fixed wing traffic volume), please consider arriving and departing at the standard traffic pattern altitude.

Section 5 - Preferred Helicopter Routes
The following routes are to be used to avoid noise sensitive areas surrounding the Manassas Regional Airport.

Section 6 - Engine Run-Up Operations for All Aircraft
Maintenance engine run-ups in designated areas are restricted to the hours of 7:00AM to 10:00PM, Monday through Sunday. Operations conducted after these hours must be submitted for approval in writing to the Director. Engine run-ups associated with preflight activity are permitted at all hours (Rules and Regulations Section 5.03(c)(8)). Engine run-ups for maintenance and pre-flight purposes should be conducted in one of designated run-up pads which are adjacent to the ends of every runway on the Airport. If possible, attempt to orient the aircraft so that the majority of the sound produced is directed to the north, over the gateway business park. Conduct run-ups at the minimum permissible RPM and be mindful of propeller synchronization when applicable.

Section 7 - Noise Complaint Procedures
When a noise complaint is received, the Airport will document it in a noise complaint log. A member of the Airport Staff will respond to the person who filed the original complaint. The noise complaint log will be kept up-to-date and will include the following information:

• Date of the noise complaint
• Time of the noise complaint
• Method of notification
• Type of disturbance
• Weather and runway conditions
• Callers remarks
• Information provided to caller
• If possible, the name and address of the person with the complaint

Section 8 - Noise Abatement Awareness
A brochure will be published to include information about this Noise Abatement Program. This will serve as a reminder of the program for persons using the Airport. The preferred departure and arrival routes for aircraft will also be included in this brochure, which can be distributed to pilots of rotorcraft or fixed-wing aircraft. The brochure can be kept inside the aircraft acting as a visual aide for the noise sensitive areas located around the airport.

Section 9 - Noise Abatement Hotline
Manassas Regional Airport has a 24-hour noise abatement hotline. Individuals can notify Airport Staff of a noise event by calling (703) 257-2576. In addition, there is a complaint form available online. The hotline and the online form will ask the residents to leave the following information:

• Name
• Address
• Neighborhood
• Phone number
• Date and Time of noise event
• Type of complaint (low, loud, hovering, change in flight pattern, vibration, or frequent)
• Additional information about the event.

Section 10 - General Consideration
Adhere to the standard traffic pattern altitudes and arrival and departure procedures whenever possible. Avoid flying low and using non-standard departures (i.e. a low-altitude, high speed turn-outs, circling residential areas). Closely monitor R.P.M. settings to avoid excessive engine noise while in the traffic pattern. Please remember to fly safely and be neighborly.