Narrative:

At XX45, while maneuvering for a visual approach to runway 14, a tight 360 degrees turn was accomplished in order to complete the descent checklist. Aircraft altitude decreased from 1000 ft AGL to about 600 ft AGL. A climb was initiated back to 1000 ft AGL. Upon completion of all checklists, a random low approach was requested and approved. After an initial descent to 500 ft AGL, the approach was broken off due to proximity to homes. At that time, a normal approach was accomplished. In addition, at XY20 a cds airdrop was performed on bfm drop zone. The drop was made at 500 AGL and the course - 360 degrees - took the aircraft out over the town. A left turn was made and an approach to 14 was accomplished at that time. After we were on the ground for 15 mins, tower informed us that they were getting telephone calls concerning our altitude, and asked that we climb on subsequent airdrops -- which we did. The problem -- one of terminology on the first approach at XX45 and the nature of tactical airdrops at XY20L may have lead to several noise complaints by people living in proximity to mobile downtown airport. Solution -- a tactical random bed approach -- although standard terminology in the mlt world, is not in the civilian -- as aircraft commander, I should have explained the procedure fully to tower. Concerning cds airdrops -- if 500 ft AGL is unacceptable in the air traffic area due to houses -- a limit on airdrop altitude should be published with the drop zone survey or in the military 'IFR en route supplement.' no other complaints were received upon continuing drops at 1000 ft AGL.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL ACFT MANEUVER IN VIOLATION OF FARS.

Narrative: AT XX45, WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 14, A TIGHT 360 DEGS TURN WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE DSCNT CHKLIST. ACFT ALT DECREASED FROM 1000 FT AGL TO ABOUT 600 FT AGL. A CLB WAS INITIATED BACK TO 1000 FT AGL. UPON COMPLETION OF ALL CHKLISTS, A RANDOM LOW APCH WAS REQUESTED AND APPROVED. AFTER AN INITIAL DSCNT TO 500 FT AGL, THE APCH WAS BROKEN OFF DUE TO PROX TO HOMES. AT THAT TIME, A NORMAL APCH WAS ACCOMPLISHED. IN ADDITION, AT XY20 A CDS AIRDROP WAS PERFORMED ON BFM DROP ZONE. THE DROP WAS MADE AT 500 AGL AND THE COURSE - 360 DEGS - TOOK THE ACFT OUT OVER THE TOWN. A L TURN WAS MADE AND AN APCH TO 14 WAS ACCOMPLISHED AT THAT TIME. AFTER WE WERE ON THE GND FOR 15 MINS, TWR INFORMED US THAT THEY WERE GETTING TELEPHONE CALLS CONCERNING OUR ALT, AND ASKED THAT WE CLB ON SUBSEQUENT AIRDROPS -- WHICH WE DID. THE PROBLEM -- ONE OF TERMINOLOGY ON THE FIRST APCH AT XX45 AND THE NATURE OF TACTICAL AIRDROPS AT XY20L MAY HAVE LEAD TO SEVERAL NOISE COMPLAINTS BY PEOPLE LIVING IN PROX TO MOBILE DOWNTOWN ARPT. SOLUTION -- A TACTICAL RANDOM BED APCH -- ALTHOUGH STANDARD TERMINOLOGY IN THE MLT WORLD, IS NOT IN THE CIVILIAN -- AS ACFT COMMANDER, I SHOULD HAVE EXPLAINED THE PROC FULLY TO TWR. CONCERNING CDS AIRDROPS -- IF 500 FT AGL IS UNACCEPTABLE IN THE ATA DUE TO HOUSES -- A LIMIT ON AIRDROP ALT SHOULD BE PUBLISHED WITH THE DROP ZONE SURVEY OR IN THE MIL 'IFR ENRTE SUPPLEMENT.' NO OTHER COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED UPON CONTINUING DROPS AT 1000 FT AGL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.