db sound level for Mooney takeoff

[MooneyMitch]

Here's an interesting one!  Van Nuys airport, located in Southern California has a night time curfew which restricts take off's from 11PM - 7 AM for aircraft producing more than 74db.  Here's the link: http://www.lawa.org/uploadedfiles/VNY/pdf/Van%20Nuys%20-%20Complete%20Curfew%20Ordinance%20(revised).pdf

I am reasonably sure that our Mooney's are below this standard so it's probably not a problem for us.

I realize that each Mooney, depending on engine type, propeller type, exhaust type, etc. may be different, but does anyone know these figures, or a standard average db level for single engine pistion powered aircraft?

I can see it now............little folks, dressed in their jammies at 2 AM, parked in their cars with a coffee thermos, listening to late night radio, or surfing the web and just waiting for an aircraft to pull out on the runway!  They jump out of their vehicle with their handheld transceiver and their little db meter and...................uh oh, db violation!! 

[clh]

According to the advisory circular  75.3 db for a M20J and 76.6 db for a M20K.  (wonder if it is a 2 or 3 blade prop)

 

http://www.nbaa.org/ops/environment/quiet-flying/AC36-1H.pdf

 

 

 

[MooneyMitch]

Thank you for that information.  Well, appears that I'm on the edge then.  Ok, I guess it will be up to the little jammie folks then...................

[jetdriven]

According to the 1977 M20J POH, its 74.0 dBA.   According to the "maximum jet sound levels"  PDF the M20J is 58.0 dBA on takeoff and 62 on landing. So much for pulling the prop back to 2500 for noise abatement...

Check the 747-100 with the PW JT-9D engines.    over 100 !

[MooneyMitch]

Ok, enough of this computer stuff, I'm off to the airport...............where I belong!!!

[jlunseth]

Mitch and others, it is worth checking to see if Van Nuys complied with the Airport Noise and Capacity Act.  It is a Federal statute and, very broadly speaking, prohibits establishment of curfews or noise abatement plans that are mandatory, without Federal approval.  Lots of local governments just try to blow that off, and pass laws anyway.  That is illegal; the Federal legislation is peremptory.

Here is some reading material: http://airportnoiselaw.org/statutes.html

I would not go out of my way to pick a fight with them (the city or the airport), but if they push the point (i.e. try to prosecute or fine you under an unauthorized local ordinance), it is worth looking into.

KFCM, my home base, has a "voluntary" noise abatement program with a curfew, which is allowed by ANCA, but they don't tell you it is voluntary.  If you land after the curfew a letter goes out demanding a report be made to the Airport Manager.  That sounds an awful lot like the mandatory reports pilots have to make say, in the event of a declared emergency and a request for a report.  In the letter, they fail to say that the program is voluntary for pilots, there is no mandatory curfew, and pilots have no obligation to respond.  They also have an ordinance that makes "maintenance runups" a gross misdemeanor, and they try to play it as though a normal pre-takeoff runup is covered, but it is not and can't be under ANCA.

Just love the way local governments like to throw their weight around.  It is all well and good to be a good citizen and make approaches and landings in a way that does not disturb the neighborhood, but that is not what triggers problems in most cases.  In most cases, just one or two locals who hate GA and the airport, check Flight Aware every morning, and if they see that flights came in after curfew, whether they ever saw or heard the flight or not, they file a report.

That's the way it works.

PS I did a little checking and it appears there was some controversy with the FAA over the proposed 77dB limit, don't know how that turned out.  http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/airport_noise/part_161/media/Van_Nuys_4_17_00.pdf

[jetdriven]

Didnt SBA airport just lose a case like this?

[MooneyMitch]

BUR just lost the case.  Not sure about SBA. 

[MooneyMitch]

Thank you jlunseth.  I will do some inquiring with my contacts at VNY PROP.   They are deeply invovled with promoting GA at VNY.  I'll bet they will fully understand and be able shed good light on this subject.

[orangemtl]

Think I'll just have to pencil in a flight from AZ to Van Nuys some evening, to do some night takeoff and landing work. Nice and loud. And then: well, come chase me, airport Gestapo!  Good luck with that.

[MooneyMitch]

Watch out for those little jammie people with their little db meters!!!