The latest noise report—formally called the Air Installation Compatible Use Zone—on Langley AFB, Va., shows an overall decrease in “noise contours” despite the addition of the new F-22A, says Maj. Lawrence Spinetta, 1st Fighter Wing chief of safety. The Raptor is louder than the F-15s it is replacing. The last AICUZ report was done 10 years ago, and since then, Langley has instituted various flight management procedures to reduce noise, including designated quiet hours and introduction of “hush houses” for engine test runs, reports Beth Gosslin.
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.