Tustin Marines Test Vibrations From Copters

A test to determine how helicopter vibration noises affect houses under flight paths is under way at the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, the military said Friday.

The testing, which began June 13 and will end Friday, involves helicopters flying a total of about 20 hours over the air base, according to Staff Sgt. Steve Short.

“We have conducted these tests to study noise, but this time we’re testing for vibration,” Short said. “We’re doing it to determine if, in fact, there is a problem. It’s the first time we’ve studied vibration as opposed to noise.”

Short said five types of Marine Corps helicopters would fly over the military family housing units in Peters Canyon Wash at the Tustin base to study the effects of vibrations. Data from the tests will be included in the Air Station Installation Compatible Use Zone planning that now measures only aircraft overflight noise.

Short said compatible use zone information is used by local governments in deciding where to put housing tracts and other projects.

“The noise contours and subsequent community ordinances do not take into account the annoyances of vibration and rattle in residential buildings,” a Marine Corps statement said. “Vibration impacts are most often associated with low-flying helicopters operating near air stations. In some cases, such annoyances appear more stressful to local homeowners than the noise.”

The military said the tests were being conducted by the Army Construction Engineering Research Lab from Champaign, Ill.

Short said the next phase of the project would be conducted July 25 through Aug. 20 and will involve approximately 12 hours of flying time.