WSMR RANGE-WIDE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Altitude Above Ground Level

or Slant Distance
nLIft) mm
Table 3-54
HH-6OG Helicopter SEL values, dBA
level flyover, ascent, and descent
:

Elm
=12mm

61.0 (200) 85.6 93.0 88.6

152.4 (500) 81.7 89.0 84.6
304.8 (1,000) 78.6 86.0 81.6
609.6 (2.000) 75.6 83.0 78.6
1,524.0 (5,000) 71.7 79.0 74.6
3,048.0 (10,000) 68.6 76.0 71.6

Source: U.S. Army 1992e.

Notes: SEL = Sound Exposure Level

dBA = "A" weighted decibel level
m = meter
ft = foot

Subscale helicopter target aircraft drones are anticipated to produce SELs well below those
of full-size helicopters at all operating altitudes. At approximately 610 m (2,000 ft) AGL or
slant distance (less than 0.8 km [0.5 mi]), helicopter drone dBAs are below 85, that of the
average full-size operational military helicopter (Table 3-52).

Characteristically, full-scale and subscale drone ight proles are above 305 m (1,000 ft)
AGL and most target drone missions range from 914 m (3,000 ft) AGL to 7,620 m (25,000
ft) MSL. At these higher altitudes, SELs are below 75 dBA. On occasion, drones are own
at altitudes below 305 m (1,000 ft) and are expected to produce SELs above 75 dBA of
extremely short (fractions of a second) duration. Drone aircraft mission ight proles within
WSMR restricted airspace are designed to eliminate all ight over populated and wildlife
areas. These procedures also result in a substantial reduction in possible noise impacts.

3.12.1.6 Exercises. Noise attributable to military exercises on WSMR is from aircraft

operations, ground vehicle operations, and ordnance detonations. A typical large-scale
exercise with the highest potential for noise impact and public concern is the Roving Sands
series. Large-scale exercises take place both on WSMR and on Fort Bliss, Texas. However,
this document addresses only the primary noise sources associated with WSMR. Small
scale exercises are expected to generate reduced noise levels. Small-scale exercises are
routinely conducted in remote, unpopulated areas of WSMR and may entail no more than
half a dozen military personnel being transported in and out by helicopters or ground vehicles
over a period of several days.

Aircraft operating within the range restricted airspace at high speed and altitudes below 914
m (3,000 ft) AGL are the primary noise source of human concern during exercises. Exercise
aircraft at higher altitudes are not anticipated to generate noise levels in excess Ldn 69 dB.
Although the area is basically unpopulated, for purposes of comparison, this would produce
less than a 20-percent' highly annoyed population rate, as required by FAA Regulation Part
91.79 (U.S. Readiness Command 1985).

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