Book Description
To validate the flight track dispersion algorithms currently in the ROUTEMAP and MR_NMAP noise models, measurements of the lateral distribution of flight operations were conducted on five low-altitude Military Training (MTRs). This distribution defines the spread in aircraft position across the width of the route. Included were three instrument routes and two visual routes having various widths and flight operation characteristics. Two methods were used to determine the distribution on the MTRs; acoustic measurements and radar tracking. The first method used a linear array of noise monitors, spanning the width of the route, to record overflight noise levels and thus estimate the aircraft position along the array. Due to limitations with this procedure, radar tracking was used as an alternate method The results, using both methods, indicate that flight tracks are distributed across MTRs in Gaussian form and the standard deviation of tracks is generally proportional to the route width. These findings support the results of previous studies which were used to develop the flight track dispersion algorithms. A recommendation has been made to formally adopt these algorithms for use in both models.