Aircraft Noise Terminology
Contents
Introduction
The Decibel (dB)
The A-Weighted Sound Level dB(A)
The Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL)
The Effective Perceived Noise Level (EPNL)
FAA Stage Classifications (Stage 1, 2 and 3)
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There are many terms used in the discussion of aircraft noise. This section is
designed to give you a broad overview of the most commonly used terms.
All sounds come from a sound source. It takes energy to produce
this sound, and this energy is transmitted through the air in sound waves, or
tiny, quick oscillations of pressure just above and just below atmospheric
pressure. These oscillations, or sound pressures, impinge on the ear, creating
the sound we hear.
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A measure of the sound pressure of a given noise source relative to
a standard reference value is the sound pressure level (SPL). This reference
pressure is typical of the quietest sound that a young person with good hearing
is able to detect and is measured in decibels (dB). The logarithmic conversion
of sound pressure to sound pressure level means that the quietest sound we can
hear (the reference pressure) has a sound pressure level of 0 dB, while the
loudest sounds we can hear without pain have sound pressure levels on the order
of 120 dB. Most sounds in our day-to-day environment have sound pressure levels
on the order of 30 to 100 dB.
The A weighted Sound Level dB(A)
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Another very important characteristic of sound is its frequency, or
"pitch". This is the rate of repetition of the sound pressure oscillations as
they reach our ear. Thus, the closer the vibrations, the higher the pitch and
vice versa. Our ears are better equipped to hear mid and high frequencies than
low frequencies, thus we find mid and high frequency noise to be more annoying.
In general, people respond to sound most readily when the predominant frequency
is in the range of normal conversation. Several filters have been defined to
approximate this sensitivity level . The A-weighted sound level/filter is used
for most environmental reviews. A-weighted sound levels best match the human
ears' sensitivity.
Click Here for a
Comparison of Aicraft Noise Levels to Common Everyday Noise Levels
The Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL)
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In simple terms, Ldn or DNL is the average noise level over a 24
hour period except that noise occurring at night (between the hours of 10PM and
7AM) are artificially increased by 10 dB. This weighting reflects the added
intrusiveness of night noise events attributable to the fact that community
background noise typically decreases by 10 dB at night.
Under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150, the FAA has
established Ldn/DNL as the cumulative noise exposure metric for use in airport
noise analyses, and has developed recommended guidelines for noise/land use
compatibility evaluation.
Click
here for FAR Part 150 Noise/Land Use Compatibility Guidelines.
The Effective Perceived Noise Level (EPNL)
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EPNL measurements consist of a frequency weighting scheme
considerably more complicated than the A-weighting filter used to determine
SELs. They incorporate a penalty for the presence of pure tones to account for
people's increased annoyance with single frequencies, such as the tones
emanating from the compressor of turbofan engines. Thus, although specific
values must be determined by computer analysis of a signal, EPNL has been
adopted for certain specialized uses involving the noise of individual
over-flights.
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The FAA classifies aircraft into three stages for clarification:
Stage 1, 2, and 3 in order from loudest to the least noisiest.
Noise levels for Stage definition of aircraft are measured at three
points. These points are designed to measure noise levels for take-off,
approach, and flyovers (sideline). Furthermore, classification is also based on
the number of engines.
Stage 1
A Stage 1 noise level means a take-off, flyover, or approach noise
level greater than the Stage 2 noise limits.
Stage 2
Stage 2 noise limits for airplanes regardless of the number of engines
are as follows:
-
For Take-off: 108 EPNdB for maximum weights of
600,000 pounds or more, reduced by 5 EPNdB per halving of the 600,000 pounds
maximum weight down to 93 EPNdB for maximum weights of 75,000 pounds and less.
-
For Sideline and Approach: 108 EPNdB for maximum
weights of 600,000 pounds or more, reduced by 2 EPNdB per halving of the
600,000 pounds maximum weight down to 102 EPNdB for maximum weights of 75,000
pounds or less.
Stage 3
Stage 3 noise limits are as follows:
-
For Take-off: airplanes with more than 3 engines
106 EPNdB for maximum weights of 850,000 pounds or more, reduced by 4 EPNdB per
halving of the 850,000 pounds maximum weight down to 89 EPNdB for maximum
weights of 44,673 pounds or less.
-
For Take-off: airplanes with 3 engines 104 EPNdB
for maximum weights of 850,000 pounds or more, reduced by 4 EPNdB per halving
of the 850,000 pounds maximum weight down to 89 EPNdB for maximum weights of
63,177 pounds or less.
-
For Take-off: airplanes with fewer than 3
engines 101 EPNdB for maximum weights of 850,000 pounds or more, reduced by 4
EPNdB per halving of the 850,000 pounds maximum weight down to 89 EPNdB for
maximum weights of 106,250 pounds or less.
-
For Sideline: regardless of the number of
engines 103 EPNdB for maximum weights of 882,000 pounds or more, reduced by
2.56 EPNdB per halving of the 882,000 pounds maximum weight down to 94 EPNdB
for maximum weights of 77,200 pounds or less.
-
For Approach: regardless of the number of
engines 105 EPNdB for maximum weights of 617,300 pounds or more, reduced by
2.33 EPNdB per halving of the 617,300 pounds maximum weight down to 98 EPNdB
for maximum weights of 77,200 pounds or less.
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