General
In general, left side (port) of helicopter is louder, except during an approach/descent, where the right side (starboard) is louder because of Blade-Vortex Interaction (BVI) noise.
 

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Ground Operations

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Hover Hover-Taxi Ground Taxi

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Takeoff and Climb

Takeoff using a high climb angle in order to get away from the ground as fast as possible (climb 5-10 knots slower than Vy using maximum takeoff power).

The left side will be slightly louder than the right side, therefore, try to keep the noise sensitive areas on the right side of the helicopter.

Turns will further increase noise on the left hand side of the helicopter.
 

Enroute and Cruise Flyover

For the Bell 206B-series:

Cruise at an altitude of at least 1,000 feet when possible. Over a noise-sensitive area, the cruise altitude required to be totally unobtrusive is approximately 3,000 feet. Remember that doubling your altitude reduces the ground noise by 6 dB.

Maintain a maximum cruise airspeed of approximately 95 knots.

For the Bell 206L-series:

Cruise at an altitude of at least 1,200 feet when possible. Over a noise-sensitive area, the cruise altitude required to be totally unobtrusive is approximately 3,600 feet. Remember that doubling your altitude reduces the ground noise by 6 dB.

Maintain maximum cruise airspeed of approximately 90 knots
 

Turns

During a turn, most of the increase in noise will occur on the left hand side of the helicopter. Therefore keep the noise sensitive areas to the right of the helicopter.
 

Descent/Approach and Landing
The following approach procedures are aimed at avoiding a rate-of-descent/airspeed combination that leads to high Blade-Vortex Interaction (BVI) noise. The high noise region is illustrated in Figure below as a function of airspeed and rate-of-descent. The noise abatement approach procedures are also shown on the figure.

Figure. High noise region and noise abatement procedures for Bell 206-series helicopters

1. Commence the approach by following one of the two procedures:

a. First establish a rate-of-descent of at least 500 fpm.
b. Then reduce airspeed while increasing the rate of descent to at least 800 fpm.

Or:
a. First establish a rate-of-descent of no more than 200 fpm while reducing the airspeed to approximately 55 knots.
b. Then increase the rate-of-descent to at least 800 fpm.

2. At a convenient airspeed between 50 and 80 knots, setup an approach glideslope while maintaining the 800 fpm or greater rate-of-descent.

3. Increase the rate-of-descent if the main rotor tends to slap, or if a steeper glideslope is desired.

4. Reduce the airspeed to below 60 knots before decreasing the rate-of-descent and commencing the flare.

5. Execute a normal flare and landing.

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