A giant Navy helicopter kept us awake last night
Noise pollution is prevalent near Navy bases
By Pat Elder
June 29, 2023
The CH-53K King Stallion lands at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The helicopter makes a lot of noise at low altitudes. - U.S. Navy photo
St. Mary’s City, MD - My wife and I live at the mouth of St. Inigoes Creek, on the north bank where the creek becomes part of the St. Mary’s River. We are situated 1,800 feet across the creek from the Webster Field Annex of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. We are a retired couple in our late 60’s.
Last night a helicopter made its rounds from 9:20 pm until 11:00 pm, keeping us awake. It rattled our windows and walls. We called the Patuxent River Naval Air Station’s noise hotline at 9:28 pm. The helicopter flew along our shore at a very low altitude and registered 102.6 decibels. It passed over approximately ten times. This was the highest level of noise, including the F-35 tests we have heard, since moving here 14 years ago.
On Monday a helicopter carrying a 20’ - 30’ I-beam approximately 100 feet above the water was stationary just off our dock for 45 minutes. It registered 96.2 dBA. Finally, the craft moved into the center of the St. Mary’s River three-quarters of a mile away and the decibel levels dropped into the mid 50 dBA range.
Decibel levels (dB) at our house
Aug 16, 2022 F-35 Practice 96.4 dB
Jan 2, 2022 Weapons practice 73.6 dB
Jan 6, 2022 Helicopter 84.0 dB
Jan 19, 2023 Weapons practice 69.9 dB
Jan 19, 2023 P.A. Announcement 64 dB
Jan 19, 2023 P.A. Announcement high-pitched beep 76.9 dB
June 26, 2023 Helicopter 96.2 dB
June 28, 2023 Helicopter 102.6 dB
Environmental Noise Pollution in decibels
Jet engine at 100’ 140 dB
Chain saw at 3’ 110 dB
Subway train at 200’ 95 dB
Walkman all the way up 94 dB
(Normal human conversation 50-60 dB)
The level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss is 80-90 dB.
We frequently call the Patuxent River Naval Air Station’s Noise Hotline at 866-819-9028. Typically, we are told that noise disturbances occur when a “Noise Advisory” is in effect. Apparently, the Navy is giving itself a pass. We called last night at 9:28 pm. We received a return call this morning.
The pleasant woman from the noise hotline explained to us that the Navy must test above land. She said, “We did have multiple complaints from last night. This was from the testing of the CH 53K. So, during the day and night testing The I R (infrared) signature of the aircraft will be measured and used to develop algorithms for aircraft survivability equipment integrated into the aircraft. Until these algorithms are developed the aircraft can’t be deployed and will be vulnerable to modern day weapon systems. Due to atmosphere considerations and the need for testing for new data at low altitudes, testing multiple times a day will be required.”
Great. We were just trying to sleep.
If they must test, can’t they do it over wide expanses of water? If they must test over land, can’t they do so over thousands of acres of uninhabited land in the region?
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