Travis AFB Sustainability Study Report Final Background Report | Page 214
Noise from aircraft operations
ISSUE
NOI‐1
The aircraft operations that occur at Travis AFB produce
noise that can be heard outside the boundaries of the
Base, within surrounding communities.
Compatibility Assessment
Travis AFB is an active air base with multiple aviation missions. Travis AFB
aircraft average approximately 170 daily operations, while transient aircraft
account for an average of approximately 209 operations per day.
Noise associated with aircraft is usually considered a nuisance where land
uses are incompatible with the aircraft activity. Residential and other noise
sensitive uses under aircraft corridors are most likely to consider the noise
to be an annoyance. This is a concern as numerous noise complaints
resulting from land use planning decisions made by local jurisdictions can
result in major encroachment issues for an air base in the future. Noise
complaints can result in lost revenue and economic development
opportunities for the affected communities and degraded military readiness
for Travis AFB.
Figure 5.18‐1.
Page 5‐94
Sound Levels Comparison in dB
The 2009 Travis AFB Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) Study
established noise zones to reflect aircraft noise based on existing aircraft
operations at Travis AFB. The AICUZ noise zones cover noise exposure
within the 65 dB and greater. The AICUZ provides recommended land use
guidelines for compatible development within the noise zones, as shown in
Table 5.18‐1. According to the AICUZ Study, the existing land use and zoning
of land within the noise zones surrounding Travis AFB do not contain any
existing incompatible uses. However, the land use in the AICUZ is
generalized and is only categorized as agriculture and open space.
Compatibility Assessment