Federal Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise (FICAN)

AGR-PUBLIC AND TRIBAL LANDS-PUBLIC AND TRIBAL LANDS ; AGR-IMPACTS-Environment ; NTL-AVIATION-Aviation Energy and Environment ; NTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Aviation Energy and Environment ;

The first objective of this study was to evaluate the series of model enhancements that were included in INM as a result of the recommendations from the GCNP MVS. Specifically, there was a desire to evaluate the performance of the latest versions of INM and NMSim1, compared with the “gold standard” data measured in the GCNP MVS. The second, but equally important objective of the current study was to examine the issue of model usability, e.g., ease of operation, runtime, data input/availability, etc. The issue of usability is of particular importance within the context of Air Tour Management Plans (ATMPs), as the development of ATMPs is a public process, which will require noise modeling in well over 100 National Parks. Additionally, as a result of a court ruling regarding environmental studies associated with St. George Airport in Utah, the courts identified the requirement to also consider the cumulative effects of noise from all aviation sectors on a National Park, including the effects of high altitude jet aircraft. Hence, the third objective of the current study was to assess the applicability of the two models with regard to assessing noise from high altitude jet aircraft. In support of the third objective a field measurement study was also conducted.

Volpe