ISSUE NOI‐3
Noise from Overflight Affects Bird and Waterfowl Population Roosting and Nesting Concern that noise from low‐level overflight on flight paths to / and from Dare County Range affects local bird and waterfowl population roosting and nesting along coastal areas and at the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge .
Due to the presence of the Atlantic Flyway , natu protection areas including bird and waterfowl h factor flight patterns and risk prior to engaging flight documents contain various instructions to and waterfowl habitat including the Mattamusk unnecessary flight risks . It is important to note measures can potentially degrade military read even cancel mission critical training exercises , w lost hours of training and skills proficiencies .
There are a number of military airspaces , including MTRs and Restricted Areas located between Seymour Johnson AFB and the DCR . Some of these MTRs authorize aviation operations below 500 feet , while some Restricted Areas authorize flight from the surface of the ground . The primary concern is the noise generated from military aircraft overflight which can disrupt bird and waterfowl roosting and nesting patterns .
Figure 5.21‐4 illustrates these military airspaces relative to National Wildlife Refuges ( NWRs ) in the area surrounding the DCR . The Atlantic Flyway – a mass migratory path for birds covers the majority of North Carolina . Collectively the Flyway combined with military airspace , can have an impact on bird roosting and nesting including disturbances that cause a flight response that can become an avoidance hazard for aircraft pilots . During migratory periods , particularly in the autumn in North Carolina , upwards of 35,000 tundra swans , and winter eagles and summer breeding osprey gravitate to the Mattamuskeet NWR . This makes this area ideal for bird habitation , including breeding , feeding , and nesting .
For the most part , pilots are instructed to avoid areas of birds and people so that noise impacts will not adversely impact either population . However , it is not always possible for pilots to avoid overflight near bird populations .
Existing Tools
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Adden Instruction 13 212 Seymour Johnson AFB published an Addendum 13‐212 ( AFI 13‐212 ), which prescribes avoidanc Seymour Johnson pilots to avoid sensitive ecoto areas . Some of the areas identified in the AFI 1 a 2,000 ft . AGL minimum altitude when flying o Pungo Unit , Mattamuskeet NWR , and Swanqua altitude is designed to lessen the noise ( and imp the wildlife that exist in these areas ).
Preliminary Draft Integrated Natural Res Plan Dare County Range July 2015 / Sey Base Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Plan Fe In the Preliminary Draft of the Integrated Natur Plan ( INRMP ) for the DCR , the February 2015 Se Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard ( BASH ) Plan is list BASH Plan stipulates instructions for bird avoida situations . While the BASH Plan is focused on s are some good existing measures in place to red birds and waterfowl in the area .
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