Communities around Naval Air Station Patuxent River should expect elevated noise levels over the next several weeks as pilots conduct carrier-landing training exercises, the base announced.
Noise-generating testing events are scheduled Sept. 14 through 30, with activity possible anytime between 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Pilots will be conducting Field Carrier Landing Practices, or FCLPs — simulated carrier landings that involve repeated touch-and-go maneuvers, known as “bounces,” designed to prepare aviators to land safely aboard an aircraft carrier. Each pass requires precisely coordinated airspeed, altitude, and power to bring the aircraft within the narrow window needed for a safe carrier-deck landing.
The base described the training as essential to the safety and precision of its aviators and said it takes precautions to lessen the impact of testing on surrounding communities.
This kind of advisory is a routine part of life near the base. NAS Patuxent River has issued similar FCLP notices throughout 2026, including multi-day windows in February, March, June, and July, making this September notice consistent with the base’s typical training schedule rather than an unusual event. As the Navy’s primary flight test center for aircraft and systems, NAS Patuxent River supports thousands of military and civilian jobs and remains a significant contributor to the regional economy; Southern Maryland communities have coexisted with its aviation activity for decades.
Residents with questions can call the base’s noise hotline at 1-866-819-9028. A full list of current advisories is available at cnic.navy.mil/PaxRiverNoise.
