Residents in communities surrounding Naval Support Facility Dahlgren in Virginia and Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland should prepare for elevated noise levels from military testing activities in late March and early April 2026. NSWC Dahlgren Division plans range testing on March 26 that could generate very loud noise, while NAS Patuxent River has advisories for potential sonic booms March 23-24 and increased aircraft operations March 30 through April 10.
At NSWC Dahlgren Division, range testing is set for Thursday, March 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The activity carries potential to produce very loud noise on station in the southern and eastern areas (Main Range and Terminal Range) of NSF Dahlgren, as well as down range and in surrounding communities. Access to the Potomac River Middle Danger Zone, per 33 CFR 334.230, will be restricted during the testing for safety. The Potomac River Test Range schedule confirms these details, with no river restrictions noted for adjacent days in the March 21-27 window, though operations occur March 23-25 and 27 without specified loud noise.
Range schedules change frequently due to operational needs. Residents and boaters can obtain daily updates by calling the NSWCDD Range and Weapons Testing toll-free hotline at (877) 845-5656 or checking the Potomac River Test Range website. For noise questions or comments, contact NSF Dahlgren at 540-653-8153. General inquiries go to the NSWCDD Public Affairs Office at NSWCD_103.fct@navy.mil or (540) 653-8152.
Over at NAS Patuxent River, an inshore weapons separation testing event is scheduled for Monday, March 23, and Tuesday, March 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This flight test has potential to generate a sonic boom audible and possibly felt in surrounding communities, including areas near Webster Outlying Field, Smith Island in Maryland, and the Northern Neck of Virginia. The base emphasizes precautions to minimize community impact.
A separate advisory covers noise-generating events from March 30 to April 10, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pilots will conduct Field Carrier Landing Practices (FCLPs), involving repeated touch-and-go maneuvers known as “bounces” to simulate aircraft carrier landings. Residents may experience increased noise from these operations. The site lists specific FCLP advisories for March 30-31, with no separate entries extending through April 10 in the calendar view, though the advisory period matches the provided information.
NAS Patuxent River provides a toll-free noise hotline at 1-866-819-9028 for more details, with calls recorded. All current advisories appear at https://www.cnic.navy.mil/PaxRiverNoise. The base takes steps to reduce effects on nearby areas during testing and training.
These activities support essential military research, development, testing, and evaluation at facilities critical to naval operations. Dahlgren focuses on surface warfare systems, while Patuxent River serves as the Navy’s principal aircraft test site. Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia communities near these installations routinely receive such notifications to promote awareness and safety, particularly for river users and those sensitive to sudden loud sounds.