Grissom to begin land use compatibility study

Published Nov. 26, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Good neighbors often look out for one another, which is exactly what Grissom is doing with a new study set to begin here in December.

Starting Dec. 5, the Air Force Reserve Command will conduct an air installation compatible use zone study, which will analyze the effects of noise and established aircraft accident potential zones on land use by Grissom and its present and future neighbors.

The first AICUZ study was conducted at Grissom in 1978 and was replaced by the last study conducted in 1995, just after Grissom realigned to a reserve base. At that point, the then 434th Wing had 22 KC-135R Stratotankers and 18 A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.

Nearly 20 years later, the base is home to only 16 KC-135s. However, Grissom is now a joint-use facility with civilian enterprises such as Montgomery Aviation and Dean Baldwin Painting using its runway and taxiways for their operations.

"A lot has changed in 20 years," said Jeff Woodring, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental management chief. "We've been requesting this study for a while, in large part because of the changes to our flying operations and to the joint use activities."

The study's main focus will be the noise produced by aircraft using the base, explained Cory Walters, 434th CES biological scientist.

"We find out what those contours are and plan our base around them," added Walters. "We also turn that data over to the local community so they can plan what types of businesses or activities should or should not be placed around the base."

The contours, officially known as day night average sound level, or DNL, contours, are the Federal Aviation Administration's primary metric used to evaluate noise effects on people.

DNLs are the 24-hour average sound levels in decibels derived from all aircraft operations during that period.

According to the FAA's Airports Desk Reference, it's important to note that due to the nature of noise, the loudest levels control the average; and that a 10-decibel penalty is added to each nighttime aircraft operation.

The FAA designated the 65-decibel contour as the noise exposure level above which residential land uses are not compatible.

"Within a certain noise contour, it might be acceptable to have an industrial-type operation, but may not be desirable to have residential developments," said Walters.

In the 1995 study of Grissom, which is located in Miami County and is immediately adjacent to Cass County, only the lowest contour of 65 decibels extended outside of the base. Higher contours were recorded, but remained within the base's fence line.

To conduct the newest study, a team of Air Force contractors recently arrived on base and will begin examining data and conducting interviews. The team is also working in conjunction with community planners and will provide a full report to them once the study is complete.

Follow-on information will also be released to the public at that time.

Grissom is home to the 434th ARW, the largest KC-135 unit in the Air Force Reserve, as well as three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps communication detachment.

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Grissom to begin land use compatibility study

Grissom to begin land use compatibility study

Public Affairs Staff