HIGH USABILITY AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE NOISE REDUCTION | Ground Run-Up Enclosures

In 1957, company founder Stanley Lynn developed a line of jet blast deflectors that set the standard for military and commercial airport facilities. When commercial aviation facilities were faced with the challenge of controlling noise from engine run-ups, second-generation owner Christopher Lynn, in conjunction with acoustical engineer Mark Boe, developed a GRE that offered unprecedented performance in both aerodynamics and noise mitigation. Blast Deflectors, Inc. (BDI) is a world leader in Ground Run-Up Enclosure (GRE) technology and Jet Blast Deflector (JBD) products. Over the last 50 years,...

GROUND RUN-UP ENCLOSURE The Traditional GRE Historically, GRE designs placed square walls around the aircraft with little regard for aerodynamic performance. Jet blast was deflected using porous screens or integrated sloped rear walls. This resulted in a GRE that could be used successfully in only extremely limited wind conditions due to turbulence at the engine inlet, which can lead to dangerous stalls and surges. The acoustical benefits of a GRE are lost if an aircraft cannot use a facility in diverse wind conditions. BDI’s revolutionary ground run-up enclosures are suitable for all aircraft...

SOUND SOLUTIONS | Ending a Five-Year Ban on Nighttime Run-Up Noise at Portland International ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGES ■ Seasonal winds vary 180 • State-mandated usability requirement Stringent state noise regulations and reporting After a worldwide search, Port of Portland engineers and operations staff selected BDI to design a ground run-up enclosure for Portland International Airport (PDX). To find the most advanced and low-risk GRE design, PDX staff traveled to engine run-up facilities throughout the world, including airports in Germany and England. “The GRE from Blast Deflectors ended...

SOUND SOLUTIONS | Chicago’s O’Hare Launches New GRE Technology ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGES ■ Limited construction timeframe (four months) Challenging wind conditions Strict noise reduction requirements A radical new approach in ground run-up noise mitigation technology was pioneered when BDI designed a GRE for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. O’Hare had been receiving an increasing number of complaints from surrounding neighborhoods because of frequent ground run-up noise. For more than two decades, O’Hare had been wrestling with this public relations issue. As one of the three busiest...

SOUND SOLUTIONS | Looks Matter: Oakland County International Airport Chooses BDI “We required a GRE that was both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing. During the design phase, BDI produced a computer rendering that clearly showed their solution. The completed GRE with the exterior cladding looks great and exceeds the performance standards.” J. David VanderVeen, Director Oakland County Department of Central Services Oakland County, Michigan FOCUSING ON RESULTS Every GRE project requires a customized approach due to the unique conditions and circumstances that exist at each airport. The...