Operating Procedures Developed For Modern, Quiet Business Jets

The NBAA has released its much-anticipated and updated Noise Abatement Program (NAP), which provides business aviation operators, as well as airport authorities, with recommended guidelines for reducing aircraft noise impacts to communities surrounding the nation’s airports. The safe, standardized and straightforward operating procedures were developed for today’s business jet aircraft, which are quieter, climb faster and often operate at airports that are far more congested than when the NAP was first launched in 1967.

“NBAA is proud to offer the business aviation community – and the many airports across the country which have recommended use of our NAP over the years – a completely updated program that is the result of several years of hard work, technical studies and vetting by NBAA staff and committee members and our partner consultant, HMMH,” said Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO. “Even though the U.S. has the quietest jet aircraft fleet in the world, NBAA believes that it is of paramount importance for business aviation operators to do everything possible to minimize noise impact whenever and wherever feasible.”
 
Information on the updated NAP was presented at NBAA’s Regional Forum in Teterboro, NJ by Gabriel Andino, NBAA Access Committee chairman and noise expert with AvPORTS at Teterboro Airport (TEB). “The revised guidelines help reduce overall noise levels to communities surrounding airports, while still meeting new ATC requirements,” said Andino.
 
Andino added that the NBAA procedures should be used in the absence of recommended noise abatement procedures from the aircraft’s manufacturer.
 
The revised NAP retains the recommendations for the existing standard departure procedure, but includes a new option for high-density airports. According to Andino, the high-traffic option – which allows for a shorter thrust cutback area – may allow the procedure to be used at busy airports where it was not feasible before.
 
The new guidelines do not include the former “close-in” departure procedure, which was found to have no significant impact on noise reduction for today’s Stage 3 and 4 aircraft, which climb so fast that they reduce power while over airport property, reducing the benefit to communities outside the airport boundary.

The updated NAP also includes recommendations for approach and landing procedures (VFR and IFR). As with the departure procedure, updated safety information and data on best practices is presented. “NBAA’s Safety Committee played a significant role in helping to update the entire Noise Abatement Program,” said Andino.
 
Jeff Gilley, NBAA’s director of airports and ground infrastructure, noted that the revised NAP includes relevant best practices information not just for aircraft operators, but for airport and air traffic control authorities as well. “It’s in the best interests of all stakeholders for aircraft to be flown as quietly and neighborly as possible,” said Gilley. “As NBAA’s new NAP materials say, ‘quiet flying is good business.’”
 
Gilley said that in the coming months, NBAA would be working closely with airport operators around the country to distribute the revised NAP and inform all stakeholders of the updated noise abatement procedure guidelines.

(Images from file)

FMI: www.nbaa.org