Meeting Notes : New Technologies Committee
Committee notes reflect the views and opinions of the committee members and not necessarily those of the Noise Compatibility Study Group, Coordinating Council, Regional Airport Authority of Louisville and Jefferson County, or the Consultant Team.
Meeting of June 24, 1999
This committee meeting took place at the Airport Authority’s facilities beginning at 7:00 p.m. Those in attendance were: Co-chairs Arnold Celentano and Marvin Pilkenton, Lt. Col. Tom Marks, Mary Rose Evans, Bob Welch, Pete Levermore and note taker, Luanne Rice who arrived late. (A tape recording of the meeting was provided for transcription.)
Notes from the last meeting were discussed and changes and elaboration requested; Arnold agreed to offer new information. Everyone agreed this would be wise especially since many members participate on several committees.
During general discussion Bob stated there are already several new, but not widely used innovations such as INS, FMS, LAAS, WAAS, GPS (see attached Aviation & Air Traffic Control Terminology provided by Bob Welch) that are probably five-to-ten years away from implementation. LAAS, he informed us, though not perfected, is already in limited use at some major airports. However, it’s up to the airport to request it. Mary Rose and Bob agreed we may want to request that this be instigated here at the Louisville airport.
Marvin opined that people want to see things happen in the next two year...they want to know what they can have tomorrow. He also felt we should discuss buildings, current and future, white noise and counter-noise, things that can show results for now.
Arnold wondered about aircraft design that would provide better gliding capabilities and/or use less power. He reminded us that these are not "Star War" technology, tat much of it can happen soon.
Tom, stating that he is no expert, felt aircraft can come in at a higher elevation and thereby minimize some noise. Bob, however, replied that the FAA might take a critical view of this due to safety hazards. Arnold asked about vertical take-off and landing 9VTOL), to which Bob responded that’s "way off in the future" and landing like a "Chopper" would severely diminish pay-load. Mary Rose stated that she had heard talk from military personnel that engine noise is down enough that actual "structural noise" is almost as loud as the motor noise. Arnold responded, "that’s hard to believe…maybe we can get an expert to talk about what they’re doing with engines."
There was further discussion about berms and "Hush Houses". Trees acting as sound barriers, construction of building, location, orientation, zoning, insulation, the pros and cons of longer runways (which may invite use by still heavier aircraft) and take-offs being to the north or south. There was also talk about a "ground-based device that generates a negative signal" to counteract noise. Mary Rose spoke about sound proofing, contending that it may cost $50,000 to sound proof a $100,000 home. Bob stated it is his belief that we’ll see much quieter engines built in the next five years, but implementation may take twice as long.
There was more talk about getting speakers in to discuss area we have not examined. Arnold also agreed that we should look at prospective ideas with an eye to the next five years, and wondered if anything further out than 10-15 years would be useful to us. Mary Rose state that this study is not the end, that people can look at our work "further down the road" and take up some of the suggestions. She stated: "People want to know, should I stay in this house, or should I go ahead and move if it’s not going to get any better?"
Marvin talked about staying within a proper "chain of command" when requesting experts, and cautioned about making commitments that might end up with a price-tag which we might have no way of paying.
The committee formulated a list to help visualize what areas of investigation we should pursue;
Aircraft
Engines
Navigational Devices
Aircraft Design
Airfield
Barriers
Engine run-up procedures
Berms
"Hush House"
Airstrip Length
Dampening Devices
Buildings – Current:
Sound Absorption
White Noise & Counter Noise
Alternative materials
Buildings – Future:
New Construction Technology
Location/Zoning
Orientation
Tom stated that Shawnee High has an aeronautics program; he wants to ask their representative to come and share new ideas with this committee. Luanne mentioned an interest associated with Sensitive Facilities committee work, in speaking with someone from the Home Builders’ Association as wall as architects who may have special knowledge or airport experience. Since people from Leigh Fischer will he here for the Par 150 Study on July 29, it might be feasible to get a speaker from to our next meeting. Tom intends to talk with someone from Wiley Labs after the 30th.
In conclusion, the next meeting was set for July 26th at 700, same location. This meeting adjourned at approximately 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted with chair approval, by: Luanne Rice.
Persons the committee may ask to speak:
Bob Adelberg (Marvin)
John Foggia of Leigh Fisher (Tom)
Jim DeLong/Bob Brown (Tom)
Tony Regling (Mary Rose)
Home Builders’ Assoc. Rep. (Luanne)
Wiley Labs Representative (Tom)
Aviation & Air Traffic Control Terminology
Aircraft Approach Category - a grouping of aircraft based on approach speeds. Approach speed categories are as follows:
A=speed less than 91 knots.
B=speed 91 knots or more but less than 121 knots.
C=speed 121 knots or more but less than 141 knots.
D=speed 141 knots or more but less than 166 knots.
E=speed 166 knots or more.
Aircraft Classes - for the purpose of wake turbulence separation minima, ATC classifies aircraft as heavy, large, and small as follows:
Heavy=aircraft capable of takeoff weights of 255,000 lbs. or more.
Large=aircraft capable of takeoff weights of more than 41,000 lbs. but less than 255,000 lbs.
Small=aircraft of 41,000 lbs. or less maximum certificated takeoff weight.
Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) - approach control radar used to detect aircraft in the terminal area.
Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) - commonly referred to as "center", are facilities established to provide air traffic control outside the terminal area during the enroute phases of flight.
Airway - a control area or portion thereof established in the form of corridor equipped with radio navigational aids.
Alternate Airport - an airport at which an aircraft may land if a landing at the intended airport becomes inadvisable.
Approach Sequence - the order in which aircraft are positioned while on approach.
Area Navigation (RNAV) - a method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on any desired flight path within the coverage of the station referenced navigation aids or within the limits of the capability of self-contained aids.
ATC - Air Traffic Control.
Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) - the continuous broadcast of recorded non-control information in selected terminal areas (broadcast includes, wind, weather, runway information, etc.).
Back-Taxi - term used by air traffic controllers to taxi an aircraft on the runway opposite to the traffic flow.
Ceiling - the heights above the earth's surface of the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena.
Crosswind - a wind that is not parallel to the runway or the path of an aircraft.
Crosswind Component - the wind component measured in knots at 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the runway.
Decision Height - the height at which a decision must be made during an ILS, MLS, or PAR instrument approach to either continue the approach or to execute a missed approach.
Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) - equipment used to determine distance from the aircraft to the navigational aid.
Flight Level - level of constant pressure stated in 3 digits that represent hundreds of feet (e.g., flight level 250 equals 25,000 feet).
Flight Management System (FMS) - a computer system with pre-programmed routes that is constantly updated with position information by referencing conventional navigational aids.
Glide Slope - provides vertical guidance for aircraft during approach and landing. This guidance can be based on electronic navigational aids (ILS), visual aids (VASI), or precision approach radar (PAR).
Global Positioning System (GPS) - satellite based navigation system that provides highly accurate position, velocity, and navigation information.
Ground Speed - speed of an aircraft in relation to the surface of the earth.
ILS Categories:
Category I - an approach procedure that provides for approach to a height above touchdown of not less than 200 feet and runway visual range of not less than 1800 feet.
Category II - an approach procedure that provides for approach to a height above touchdown of not less than 100 feet and runway visual range of not less than 1200 feet.
Category IIIA - an approach procedure that provides for approach without decision height minimum and runway visual range of not less than 700 feet.
Category IIIB - an approach procedure that provides for approach without decision height minimum and runway visual range of not less than 150 feet.
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) - rules governing the procedures for conducting instrument flight.
Instrument Landing System (ILS) - a precision instrument approach system that provides horizontal and vertical guidance during the approach to landing (see Localizer and Glide Slope).
Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) - meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from clouds, and ceiling less than the minima prescribed for visual meteorological conditions.
Inertial Navigation System (INS) - a self-contained navigation system requiring no information from external references. The system provides information in response to signals resulting from inertial effects on components within the system.
Intersection - a point defined by any combination of courses, radials, or bearings of two or more navigational aids.
Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO) - operations which include simultaneous takeoffs and landings on intersecting runways when a landing aircraft is able and is instructed by the control tower to hold short of the intersecting runway, taxiway, or designated hold short point.
Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) - a network of ground reference stations that complements WAAS and augments the accuracy of GPS to an accuracy of less than one meter. This allows precision approaches to be completed with GPS to category II and category III minimums.
Localizer - the component of an ILS that provides horizontal guidance to the runway.
Minimums - weather condition requirements established for a particular operation or type of operation.
Missed Approach - a maneuver conducted by a pilot when an instrument approach cannot be completed to a landing.
Navigational Aid - any visual or electronic device airborne or on the surface which provides point-to-point guidance information.
Nondirectional Beacon (NDB) - a LTHF radio beacon that allows an aircraft equipped with direction finding equipment to determine the bearing to or from the radio beacon.
Nonprecision Approach - a standard instrument approach procedure in which no electronic glide slope information is provided.
Parallel Runways - two or more runways at the same airport whose centerlines are parallel.
Precision Approach - a standard instrument approach procedure in which electronic glide slope information is provided.
Precision Approach Radar - radar equipment at some ATC facilities that is used to conduct a precision instrument approach wherein the controller issues guidance instructions to the pilot based on the aircraft's position in relation to the final approach course, glide path, and distance to the touchdown point on the runway.
Procedure Turn - a maneuver prescribed when necessary to reverse direction to establish an aircraft on the intermediate approach segment or final approach course.
Radar Vectoring - provision of navigational guidance to aircraft in the form of specific headings based on the use of radar.
Reporting Point - a specified geographical location in relation to which the position of an aircraft can be reported.
Required Navigation Performance (RNP) - a statement of the navigation performance accuracy necessary for operation within a defined airspace.
Runway Visual Range (RVR) - an instrumentally derived value that represents the distance a pilot will see down the runway from the approach end.
Touchdown Zone - the first three thousand feet of the runway beginning at the threshold.
VHF Omni-range (VOR) - a ground based electronic navigation aid transmitting signals 360 degrees in azimuth, oriented from magnetic north.
Visual Flight Rules (VFR) - rules that govern the procedures for conducting flight under visual conditions.
Waypoint - a predetermined geographical position used for route/instrument approach definition.
Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) - a network of ground reference stations that augments the accuracy of GPS to an accuracy of seven meters vertically and horizontally.