No abstract

The Military Training Area in Labrador, Canada is used by NATO Alliance air forces of the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands, and is managed by the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND). Protection of the natural environment is a major consideration in the management of the training area. This paper describes a computer-based noise propagation model that will be used to support environmental management. The paper demonstrates its use in planning flying training sorties to mitigate short-term environmental impacts, and also its use in assessing environmental effects of the flying activity over the longer term. The model enables DND to maximize the extent of the range available for flight training by accurately calculating noise levels on the ground, and hence the degree and method of noise impact mitigation that is appropriate. The noise propagation model is used in conjunction with other computer-based tools for flight track modeling, terrain modeling, and specifying locations of noise-sensitive areas (typically wildlife habitats which may change in location during the training period). Other projects are aimed at investigating and evaluating acceptable levels of noise impact, in terms of consequences on wildlife viability in these habitats.