EPA Document Collection

Subject Index

About the EPA document collection held by the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse.

Subject Index: A B C E G H I L M O P R S T U W
Title Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W #

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Most useful EPA documents

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Air Compressors
Animals and Wildlife
Aviation

Air Compressors

Portable Air Compressor Noise Emission Standards
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A Comparison of Sound Power Levels from Portable Air Compressors Based Upon Test Methodologies Adopted by U.S. EPA and the CEC
December 1980
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On December 30, 1975, the United States government issued a regulation which set limits on the amount of noise emitted from portable air compressors. This regulation also specified the noise test procedure to determine the maximum sound pressure level of compressors. On April 5, 1978, the Commission of the European of the European Communities (CEC) submitted a proposed directive to the Council of the European Communities, that also would set limits on the noise emitted by portable air compressors within the European Economic Community (EEC). The proposed directive also specified the test procedure to determine the sound power emitted from a compressor. It became evident that both U.S. and European manufacturers may need to perform two separate noise tests on their compressors if they intend to meet both existing U.S. and the proposed EEC noise standards. At the request of industry, U.S. government representatives entered into discussions with representatives of the CEC in November 1975. These discussions led to an agreement between the CEC and the U.S. EPA to jointly conduct comparative noise tests of various size compressors to assess the potential for alignment of the existing U.S. and proposed CEC test procedures. The test results presented in this report are the end product of those bilateral discussions and technical cooperation between the CEC and the EPA.

Federal Register - Environmental Protection Agency - Portable Air Compressors Noise Emission Standards
January 1976
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Background Document for Proposed Portable Air Compressor Noise Emission Regulations
October 1974
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Noise Emission Standards for Construction Equipment - Background Document for Portable Air Compressors
December 1975
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This document contains the technical, economic, health and welfare analyses and other pertinent data and information utilized by the Environmental Protection Agency in the development of the final Portable Air Compressors Regulation.

A Comparison of Sound Power Levels from Portable Air Compressors Based Upon Test Methodologies Adopted by U.S. EPA and the EEC
December 1980
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On December 30, 1975, the United States government issued a regulation which set limits on the amount of noise emitted from portable air compressors. This regulation also specified the noise test procedure to determine the maximum sound pressure level of compressors. On Arpil 5, 1978, the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) submitted a propsed directive to the Council of the European Communities, that also would set limits on the noise emitted by portable air compressors within the European Economic Community (EEC). The proposed directive also specified the test procedure to determine the sound power emitted from a compressor. It became evident that both U.S. and European manufacturers may need to perform two separate noise tests on their compressors if they intend to meet both existing U.S. and the proposed EEC noise standards. At the request of industry, U.S. government representatives entered into discussions with representatives of the CEC in November 1975. These discussions led to an agreement between the CEC and the U.S. EPA to jointly conduct comparative noise tests of various size compressors to assess the potential for alignment of the existing U.S. and the proposed CEC test procedures. The test results presented in this report are the end product of those bilateral discussions and technical cooperation between the CEC and the EPA.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Noise Advisory Circular - Portable Air Compressors - Meter Reading
May 1978
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Noise Advisory Circular - Portable Air Compressors - Introductory Advisory Circular
January 1978
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Inflation Impact Statement for Portable Air Compressor Regulation
December 1975
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Executive Order 11821 requires the preparation of an Inflation Impact Statement (IIS) for all major standards and regulations or of major legislation. Attached is the IIS for the Portable Air Compressor Regulation signed into law December 31, 1975 and published in the Federal Register, January 14, 1976 (41FR2162).

Portable Air Compressor Noise Control Technology and Cost Information
September 1974
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Information on Noise Levels, Noise Measurment Methods and "Buy Quiet" Experiences Associated with Portable Air Compressors
November 1981
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This supplement is intended to help governmental purchasing agents and other officials purchase quieter, more energy-efficient portable air compressors through the competitive bidding process. It contains a portable air compressor purchase description which was developed at a government-industry conference hosted by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing in June 1981. This conference was the third in a series of such conferences that NIGP is conducting on different products. This supplement is a companion document to the "Guide to Purchasing Quieter Products and Services" which describes in general terms how noise considerations can be incorporated into purchasing decisions. Together, these documents and others available through the Quiet Product Data Bank maintained by NIGP can help you develop a "Buy Quiet" Program for your government.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Noise Advisory Circular - Portable Air Compressors - The Noise Enforcement Facility's Compressor Exchange Test Program
October 1978
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Procedures for Estimating Sound Power from Measurements of Sound Pressure - An Experimental Investigation with Application to Noise From Portable Air Compressors
Curtis I. Holmer
January 1975
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This report describes investigations of the accuracy and precision of various measurement methodologies for determining the estimated sound power output of "large" machines in the free field over a reflecting plane. One purpose of this investigation is to place empirical error bounds on many of the free field measurement procedures currently proposed or in use; and in particular, compare the results of "near-field" and "far-field" measurements. The sources used for the investigation included 17 portable air compressors of various types (powered by internal combustion engines), a "reference" sound source, and a loudspeaker driven by a pure tone source. The data recorded include sound pressure level (A-weighted, linear, and 1/3-octave band) on an 84 point hemispherical array of seven metre radius, and "near-field" measurements, sampled every square metre, on a rectangular surface one metre from the machine surface. These data were reduced to provide information on the deviation of "near field" sound power determinations from "far-field" power level (using subsets of the data as appropriate to various methodologies). The measured data for seventeen sources suggests that the value of a sound power estimate based on "near-field" sound pressure level measurements may be an upper bound to the sound power level estimated from far field measurements, subject to the limitations of sampling error. Estimates of total achievable measurement error of A-weighted sound power level of near field determinations relative to far field determinations are made for several measurement methodologies, based on the experimental data.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Noise Advisory Circular - Portable Air Compressors - Definition of "manufactured"
March 1978
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Procedures for Estimating Sound Power from Measurements of Sound Pressure
Curtis I. Holmer
January 1975
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This report describes investigations of the accuracy and precision of various measurement methodologies for determining the estimated sound power output of "large" machines in the free field over a reflecting plane. One purpose of this investigation is to place empirical error bounds on many of the free field measurement procedures currently proposed or in use; and in particular, compare the results of "near-field" and "far-field" measurements. The sources used for the investigation included 17 portable air compressors of various types (powered by internal combustion engines), a "reference" sound source, and a loudspeaker driven by a pure tone source. The data recorded include sound pressure level (A-weighted, linear, and 1/3-octave band) on an 84 point hemispherical array of seven metre radius, and "near-field" measurements, sampled every square metre, on a rectangular surface one metre from the machine surface. These data were reduced to provide information on the deviation of "near-field" sound power determinations from "far-field" power level (using subsets of the data as appropriate to various methodologies). The measured data for seventeen sources suggests that the value of a sound power estimate based on "near-field" sound pressure level measurements may be an upper bound to the sound power level estimated from far field measurements, subject to the limitations of sampling error. Estimates of total achievable measurement error of A-weighted sound power level of near field determinationsrelative to far field determinations are made for several measurement methodologies, based on the experimental data.

Animals and Wildlife

Effects of Noise on Wildlife and Other Animals - Review of Research Since 1971
Patricia A. Dufour
July 1980
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This report represents a survey of the most significant studies since EPA issued its first report concerning noise effects on wildlife in 1971. The report has been divided into three main sections: laboratory animals, domestic animals, and wildlife. Studies within each of the three sections are further arranged by taxonomic groups and/or individual species, depending on the amount of material available. Reports on each species or taxonomic group are presented in four major categories of noise effects: auditory physiological, masking, nonauditory physiological, and behavioral.

Effects of Noise on Wildlife and Other Animals
December 1971
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In recent years the possible effects of noise on wildlife have become a matter of serious concern, for several excellent reasons. Our rapidly growing population and advancing technology result in ever increasing noise levels. Noise is an unwanted and at times a potentially dangerous by-product of virtually every aspect of modern-day life - construction, transportation, power generation, manufacturing, recreation, etc. Today we find that areas previously considered remote, and therefore relatively non-polluted by noise, are now being exposed or are in danger of exposure to various kinds of noise pollution. The effects that increased noise levels will have on wildlife in these areas are virtually unknown. Obviously animals that rely on their auditory systems for courtship and mating behavior, prey location, predator detection, homing, etc., will be more threatened by increased noise than will species that utilize other sensory modalities. However, due to the complex interrelationships that exist among all the organisms in an ecosystem, interference with one species might well affect all the other species.

Effects of Aircraft Noise and Sonic Booms on Fish and Wildlife: A Research Needs Workshop
August 1988
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Sound Levels From Oil and Gas Exploration Activities
James D. Foch; Richard E. Burks
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Data from a sound measurement survey consucted in 1981 within and in the vicinity of Glacier National park are analyzed and presented. Measurements were made of oil and gas seismic exploration activities in Flathead National Forest and Helena National Forest, including sounds from above ground blasts, helicopters and associated activities. Typical reference sound levels are identified for above ground blasts and helicopters, and theoretical procedures for estimating their propagation are developed, considering terrain and meteorological conditions characteristic of Glacier National Park. A sample application of the prediction method shows sound levels from above ground blasts outside the Park remain significantly above ambient levels at locations inside the Park for long durations. These results corroborate anecdotal reports and biological studies which indicate that sound from oil and gas exploration activities can be heard well inside the Park and could be affecting sensitive wildlife populations in the area. Recommendations for additional monitoring and modeling are outlined.

Aviation Noise Effects
J. Steven Newman; Kristy R. Beattie
March 1985
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This report summarizes the effects of aviation noise in many areas, ranging from human annoyance to impact on real estate values. It also synthesizes the findings of literature on several topics. Included in the literature were many original studies carried out under FAA and other Federal funding over the past two decades. Efforts have been made to present the critical findings and conclusions of pertinent research, providing, when possible, a "bottom line" conclusion, criterion or perspective for the reader. Issues related to aviation noise are highlighted, and current policy is presented. Specific areas addresses in the report include the following: Annoyance, Hearing and Hearing Loss, Noise Metrics, Human Response to Noise, Speech Interference, Sleep Interference, Non-Auditory Health Effects of Noise, Effects of Noise on Wild and Domesticated Animals, Low Frequency Acoustical Energy, Impulsive Noise, Time of Day Weightings, Noise Contours, Land Use Compatibility, Real Estate Values. This document is designed for a variety of users, from the individual completely unfamiliar with aviation noise to experts in the field. Summaries are provided at the beginning of each section; references are also included.

Effects of Noise on Wildlife and Other Animals
December 1971
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Foreign Noise Research in Noise Effects
Niriam Heilman
January 1978
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This volume has been compiled from the results of a survey on foreign noise effects research from 1975-77. The survey was conducted for the second interagency noise effects research panel. Included in the volume are 211 project descriptions, from twenty-two countries. Projects are reported under the following subject areas: noise-induced hearing loss, non-auditory health effects, psychological and performance effects, noise effects on sleep, communication interference, community or collective response, effects of noise on domestic animals and wildlife, noise environment determination, and noise concomitant with vibration.

Aviation

1976 Reassessment of Noise Concerns of Other Nations - Volume I - Summary and Selected topics
Carl Modig; Ghalib Khouri; John Stepanchuk; George Cerny
August 1976
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A review of the noise abatement programs of countries around the world (except the U.S.) including laws, regulations, guidelines, criteria, research, governmental organization, plans, etc., with bibliography and contact addresses to facilitate further inquiry. Also includes international organizations involved in noise control. Both environmental and occupational noise are covered. Topics: Community noise, airport, aircraft, surface transportation, construction noise, occupational noise, noise from factories, noise in buildings. A summary finds that compared to a similar 1971 review, the U.S. has "caught up", information has increased geometrically, many nations now compensate citizens for noise from airports or roads, and noise limits in industry are becoming stricter. Vol. II contains country-by-country reviews.

John F. Kennedy International Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Noise Measurement of Concorde 02 Approach and Takeoff at Dallas-Ft. Worth and Dulles International Airports
Carole S. Tanner
August 1974
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Noise measurements were made of the Concorde 02 aircraft during operations at Dallas-Ft. Worth and Dulles International Airports in September 1973. Data were acquired at 25 sites surrounding Dallas and 15 sites surrounding Dulles. The results are reported in terms of various noise evaluation measures (A-level, Effective Perceived Noise Level, etc.) and correlated with respect to distance and aircraft/engine operating parameters. Included are representative one0third octave band spectra for takeoff and approach operations at Dulles. A prediction procedure is presented based upon data measured at various distances extrapolated to larger distances by standard methods. The results of the semiempirical predictions indicate that there is no reason to believe that the noise levels measured and reported by the Concorde developers cannot be achieved with the use of noise abatement procedures. However, noise abatement takeoff procedures were not fully utilized at Dulles and, as a result, the measured noise levels exceed the values claimed by the developers.

Houston Intercontinental Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Honolulu International Airport
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Airport-Land Use Compatibility Planning
January 1977
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The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a new advisory circular providing guidance for airport-land use compatibility planning at new and existing airports. The comprehensive planning approach discussed in the guidance stresses balance between the needs and tolerances of both the airport and its environs. A system of Land Use Guidance Zones is used to translate airport noise into categories of compatible land use. Reduction and/or containment of airport noise is an essential part of the program. Community goals, values, and needs are injected via a citizen involvement program to assure that the final plan and its implementation program accurately reflect the individual characters of affected communities. The circular furthers the objective of reducing noise impact as articulated in the Department of Transportation Aviation Noise Abatement Policy.

Dulles Airport?
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Dallas Fort-Worth Regional Airport (DFW) - 1987 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Report on Aircraft-Airport Noise
August 1973
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Foreign Noise Research in Surface Transportation
December 1977
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This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Informatics Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. The purpose of the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Federally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations for additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.

Federal Noise Research - EPA Summary and Assessment
June 1978
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The United States Government is involved in research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities related to aviation, surface transportation, machinery and construction equipment noise abatement and control through a number of its Agencies and Departments. In addition, considerable effort is expended in noise effects research to help identify and categorize the adverse health effects of noise. These programs vary in size and complexity, and objectives vary according to overall Agency charters, statutory authorities and other priorities. One of the purposes of the Noise Control Act of 1972 was to establish a means of effective coordination of Federal research and development activities in noise research and noise control. The Act directs the Administrator of the EPA to compile and publish, from time to time, a report on the status and progress of Federal noise research and noise control programs. In early 1974, the Federal noise research coordination activity was initiated in accordance with Section 4 of the Act. Four interagency noise research panels were established in the areas of: -Aviation, -Surface vehicles, -Machinery, -Effects. Reports were issued by the panels in the March-May 1975 time period (Ref. 1-4). The reports summarized the FY 1973-75 ongoing and planned noise research, development and demonstration programs within the various Agencies of the Federal Government. During 1976, the four panels were reconvened to update the data base and also: -Assess the contribution of past, current and planned Federal Noise RD&D Programs, and -Identify technology and noise effects needs to support a long range National Noise Abatement Strategy. The Chairman selected for each panel was a senior representative of the Agency having maximum program content in the specific panel...EPA provided secretariat support to each of the panels. The panels developed specialized reports covering the Research and Technology Development and Demonstration programs related to their area of concern (Refs. 5-8). The individual report formats were generally consistent with minor variations between them based upon the perceived needs of the Panel Chairman and Panel participants. This summary report presents an EPA overview and assessment of the results of the panels' deliberations. Each of the Panel Chairman, as well as the panels' members, were provided an opportunity to comment on, (1) a preliminary draft and, (2) a final draft copy of this report. ALl of the coments were carefully considered and reviewed with the commenters. The final report includes those points deemed appropriate for inclusion herein. However, the findings, conclusions, & recommendations in this assessment are EPA's and not necessarily those of any other agency.

Foreign Noise Research in Aviation
December 1977
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This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Informatics Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. THe purpose of the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Federally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations fffor additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.

Federal Research, Technology and Demonstration Programs in Aviation Noise
March 1978
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The Noise Control Act of 1972 directs EPA to establish the effective coordination of Federal research and development activities in noise control, and to compile and publish periodic reports on the status and progress of these actions. The Federal noise research coordination activity was initiated in early 1974. Four interagency research panels were established in the areas of: (1) Aviation, (2) Surface transportation, (3) Machinery, and (4) Noise effects. The panels issued reports in the March-June 1975 time period summarizing the fiscal year 1973 through 1975 ongoing and planned noise research, technology, and demonstration (RT&D) programs within the various agencies of the Federal Government. During 1976, the four panels were reestablished to develop an up-to-date summary of Federally-sponsored noise RT&D programs, to assess their adequacy to meet national objectives for noise abatement, and to identify technology needs to support a national noise abatement strategy. The Federal Interagency Aviation Noise Research Panel included representatives of the agencies principally concerned with aviation noise abatement and research. They include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); the Department of Defense (DOD), Departments of the Air Force, Army, and Navy; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA/ONAC). The Department of Housing and Urban Development was also represented because of their interest in aircraft noise abatement through land use planning and noise attenuating building practices. HUD sponsors no research in aircraft source noise reduction. Mr. Harry W. Johnson, Directior of NASA's Aeronautical Propulsion Division, served as chairman of the panel. NASA currently sponsors the bulk of aviation noise research programs within the Federal Government. EPA served as the secretariat. The information, assessments, conclusions, and recommendations in this report are the consensus of the panel members and are not necessarily the official views of the agencies.

Aviation Noise - Let's get on the job
April 1976
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Federal Aviation Administration - Analysis of a Single Event Noise Metric for Airport Noise Assessment
April 1991
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The Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 authorizing the establishment of a voluntary program of local airport noise compatibility planning, and directed the standardization of the procedure for representing and evaluating airport noise. Specifically, the Act directed the Secretary of Transportation, through regulations, to: a. Establish a single system of measuring noise, for which there is a highly reliable relationship between the projected noise exposure and surveyed reactions of people to noise, to be uniformly applied in measuring the noise at airports and the areas surrounding the airports; b. Establish a single system for determining the exposure of individuals to noise which results from the operations of an airport and which includes, but is not limited to, noise intensity, duration, frequency, and time of occurrence; and c. Identify land uses which are normally compatible with various exposures of individuals to noise. (Public Law 96-193, Sec. 102.) In response to this legislative mandate, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Part 150 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, Airport Noise Compatibility Planning (14 CFR 150) in 1980. THis procedure adopted A-weighted Sound Level as the "single" unit for measureing noise, designated Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) as the "single system" for determining the exposure of individuals to airport noise, and included a table of land uses which were considered to be normally compatible ot incompatible with various levels of Yearly DNL. The selections of A-weighted Sound Level, DNL, and the normally compatible land uses were based on the best scientific information available at that time (References 1 to 3). In general, DNL was also adopted by the FAA for its environmental assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act (Reference 4), and by most other federal agencies in their environmental reviews. Recent research has supported these findings (Reference 5). In recent years, there have been indications of increasing dissatisfaction with the accepted airport noise evaluation methodology and the compatibility guidelines designed above. In particular, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has raised a number of issues concerning the present federal process for evaluating airport environmental noise effects. The USEPA's concerns focused on the adequacy and applicability of current methodologies and metrics, the definition of full disclosure, and the extent of mitigation measures which should be considered in an environmental document. Of particular concern to the USEPA, and one of the subjects of this report, is the evaluation of impacts at levels of impact below a DNL of 65 decibels (dB). The purpose of this report is the quantification and documentation of airport noise impacts using a noise exposure metric based on single-event noise levels, rather than the equal-energy concept embodied in the DNL metric.

Airport Access Study - Impact of Airport-Oriented Vehicle Trips on Highway Facilities
July 1972
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This study was initiated by the Federal Highway Administration's Urban Planning Division for the primary purpose of developing a method to assess the impact of airport-oriented vehicular trips on highway facilities. This was accomplished using existing urban transportation study data files and computer programs available from the Federal Highway Administration.

Guidelines for Review of Environmental Impact Statements - Airport Projects
Kenneth E. Nelson; Sarah J. LaBelle
January 1975
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The principal objective of this report is to supply the regional offices of the Environmental Protection Agency with guidelines for the review of airport project environmental impact statements. The guidelines contain both procedural and technical guidance for the comprehensive review of air, noise, water and wastewater, solid waste, land use, hazardous materials, and ecological impacts. The report includes discussion of the evaluation of environmental impact statements and the airport development process. A classification system was developed to rank projects according to their impacts. The major thrust of the report deals with assessment techniques for airport-generated pollutants. This includes a discussion of standards and procedural guidelines, the identification of sources, an evaluation of state-of-the-art assessment techniques, and description of abatement strategies. Finally, the assessment for the overall airport project used by the EPA, along with an explanation of viable alternatives to an airport project, is presented.

Boston-Logan International Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Airport Land Banking
August 1977
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�The primary purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility, practibility, and cost of airport land banking to assess whether the federal Government could or should take additional action to foster the concept. The study provides the framework for this assessment but does not propose any definite course of Federal action....

Anchorage International Airport - 1987 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Airport Planning Manual - Part 2 - Land Use and Environmental Control
January 1985
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The purpose fo this part of the manual is to provide guidance material on land use or planning in the vicinity of airports and on environmental aspects, as no Standards or Recommended Practices on this subject exist in any Annex. It is based in part on conclusions of the Special Meeting on Aircraft Noise in the Vicinity of Aerodromes held in 1969, and on the current practices of several States and incorporates guidance material on airport environmental aspects as recommended by the Eighth Air Navigation Conference held in 1974.

A Building Code for Exterior Noise Isolation With Respect to Aircraft Noise
December 1974
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The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide for the health and welfare of the general public by establishing standards for land use and for building construction with respect to exterior noise produced by the legal and normal operations of the XXXXX airport. The Ordinance establishes noise zones and differing intensities on land adjacent to the XXXXX airport, establishes permitted land uses in the noise zones and establishes building construction requirements with respect to exterior noise isolation.

Los Angeles International Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Miami International Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Seattle-Tacoma International Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Project Report - Minimum Altitudes for Noise Abatement
November 1974
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This is the third draft of the Project Report on Minimum Altitudes for Noise Abatement. In response to the distribution of the second draft, dated 5 March 1974, a number of comments were received from interested persons and organizations. Several of the respondents raised substantive issues on such matters as health and welfare aspects, safety, economic reasonableness, need for the regulation, airport operators' authority over airplane operations, etc. A summary tabulation and detailed discussion of these comments and issues is presented in Appendix B. Serious consideration was given to the comments recieved, and, as a result, this third draft of the project report contains substantial revisions from Draft No. 2.

Airport Noise Reduction Forecast Volume II - NEF Computer Program Description and User's Manual
Carroll Bartel; Charles Coughlin; John Moran; Larry Watkins
October 1974
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A fundamental requirement of this contract was that the noise impact of air traffic around major airports on the surrounding community be described and that predictions of various noise abatement alternatives be made. For this the DOT/Wyle Noise Exposure Forecast Computer Program was developed. Volume II of this report is a description of the program. Included in this volume are brief descriptions of the calculations performed, the subroutines that perform them, and a User's Guide. Also included is a complete listing of the program, in Fortran V. Inputs to the program are a description of the airport geometry including flight paths, aircraft noise and performance characteristics, and the aircraft fleet mix. Outputs are contours of equal value of Noise Exposure Forecasts around the airport. Volume I of this report (Report DOT-TST-75-3) contains information pertaining to the input data, all the computer runs that were made, and the conclusions drawn from those data.

Federal Register - Development and Submission of Airport Operator's Noise Compatibility Planning Programs and FAA's Administrative Process for Evaluating and Determining the Effects of Those Programs and Proposed Amendment to Definition of "Acoustical Cha
January 1981
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Impact of Noise on People
May 1977
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Aviation noise significantly impacts approximately six million people in urban areas. In an effort to explain the impact of noise on these citizens, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) presents this brochure. Included are aircraft noise indices, information on humna response to noise, and criteria for land use controls. Additionally, hearing damage and occupational health standards for noise are described. FAA presents this information in an effort to enhance public understanding of the impact of noise on people and to answer many questions that typically arise.

Airport Noise Reduction Forecast Volume I - Summary Report for 23 Airports
roll Bartel; Louis C. Sutherland; Leroy Simpson; R. Dixon
October 1974
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A detailed analysis of cost effectiveness of two aircraft noise reduction alternatives was carried out and the final results are summarized in this report. The alternatives consisted of: (1) modification of all civil air carrier aircraft having JT3D and JT8D engines, using quiet nacelles (SAM) treatment, and (2) modification of all JT3D-powered civil aircraft using SAM treatment plus all JT8D-powered civil aircraft using new front fan (REFAN) treatment. Both alternatives also assumed standard use of a two-segment approach procedure incorporating a 6 degree/3 degree glide slope for landing. The analysis included a detailed evaluation of noise impact at 23 airports for the years 1972, 1978, 1981, and 1987 along with a detailed cost analysis of implementing the alternatives. Based on a time-integrated measure of relative reduction in number of people or land area impacted within NEF 30 or NEF 40 contours, the cost effectiveness of the SAM 8D/3D alternative is more than twice that of the SAM 3D/REFAN 8D alternative.

ALPA Noise Abatement Handbook
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The purpose of this handbook is to aquaint the user, be he airline pilot, airport manager, or private, concerned citizen, with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) policies and positions on aircraft noise abatement. These ALPA policies, statements and positions have been developed with long and careful consideration in various factors. These factors include the broad mix of aircraft, engines and pilot qualifications, diverse route structures and segments, differing airport layouts, capabilities and capacities, the constraints of air traffic control and airspace restrictions, varying terrain factors, and finally, the concern for the need for effective, standardized and safe procedures.

Design Guide for Reducing Transportation Nois and Around Buildings
David S. Pallett; Robert Wehrli; Roger D. Kilmer; Thomas L. Quindry
April 1978
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This design guide presents a unified procedure for the selection of noise criteria in and around buildings, for the prediction of exterior and interior noise levels arising as a consequence of transportation systems operations, and for the evaluation of the adequacy of building designs with regard to environmental noise. Noise criteria levels are suggested in terms of equivalent sound levels (Leq). Simplified predictive methods enable the estimation of noise levels arising as a consequence of highway, railway, and aircraft operations. The sound isolation provided by the building shell is estimated by means of a new single-figure rating system. Finally, design manipulations which may make possible the improvement of the acoustic conditions in and around buildings are suggested.

Land Use Compatability Study: Aircraft Noise and Land Use
Richard L. Harris; Norman W. Arnold; George J. Shepherd
June 1984
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Part 150 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR Part 150), Airport Noise Compatability Planning, includes in Part B of Appendix A a table titled "Land Use Compatability with Yearly Day-Night Average Sound Levels". The table presents various land uses that are compatible and incompatible with specific ranges of sound levels (in decibels). The objective of this study was to investigate, identify and document original source material for the table appearing in FAR Part 150 and to prepare a report comparing and analyzing the results obtained from these sources considered in the development of the table. To the extent that sources could be identified, they have been reviewed and the detailed results presented in a chronological narrative. Noise level guidelines for various land uses shown in the FAR Part 150 table were found to be reasonable and supportable based on this review of historical rating and measurement procedures used to assess the compatibility between land use, the noise environment, and human activity. The table is consistent with previous land use compatibility studies and no changes in the table are recommended.

A Primary Teaching Pack - Noise - Based on the Darlington, England Quiet Town Experiment
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, has purchased this teaching package and its reproduction rights for your use. The package is one output of a Quiet Town Experiment conducted in Darlington, England. Throughout the book you will find words and phrases which are typically British in use and which may sound strange to American schoolchildren. Among the best examples of these are: lorry (truck), mecano set (erector set), wendy house (doll house), aerodome (airport). In addition, you will notice references to British organizations and activities, as well as the expected spelling differences between British and American English. The editors elected not to make substantial semantic changes, partly to insure that the integrity of the original package is preserved and partly because exposure to these cultural differences is instructional in itself. Please be alert to these differences and be prepared to explain unfamiliar words, phrases, and references to your students. On the whole, this package is an excellent resource for teachers of elementary grades. It can be used in whole or in part and adapted in any way you deem appropriate. Projects are outlined for students of every age and grade level.

Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) Program
ONAC
April 1977
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This document is intended to assist Federal agencies in understanding the Department of Defense's program to abate noise at military airfields. It covers some of the important features of the Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) Program, its problems and relationships to other agency noise programs.

Noise in America: Extent of the Noise Problem
Miles Simpson; Robert Bruce
September 1981
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The number of Americans exposed to various levels of occupational and environmental noise is estimated. Estimates are made for 11 categories of noise producers (e.g., traffic, aircraft, construction) using the Ldn or Leq(24) metrics. The assumptions in the models used, including , including demographic projections, are made explicit for all estimates. Estimates for combined exposures to traffic and other community noise sources are also made, as well as indoor noise exposures from home equipment like fans and clothes washers. According to the estimates, 1.5 million people are exposed to outdoor noise levels (from a11 sources) of over 75 Ldn, and over 90 million, to levels over 58 Ldn. Over 9 million people are exposed to occupational noise in excess of 80 dB (Leq(24)).

Foreign Noise Research in Machinery/Construction Equipment
December 1977
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Laws and Regulatory Schemes for Noise Abatement
December 1971
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I - Among the more significant findings and conclusions of this Report are the following: - The existing Environmental Noise Regulatory Structure is fragmented in organization and ad hoc in operation. Abatement functions are distributed among Federal, State, and local governmental levels but are largely uncoordinated. - The environmental noise problem context is composed of a wide variety of discrete noise sources and noise environments. Numerous partial efforts have been made to regulate "excessive" or "unnecessary" noise through regulatory schemes directed to abatement at the source, reduction of the effects of noise, and to remedies (by private action) to abate the source or to reduce the effects. - Regulation by the Federal government has been slight. Even with respect to aircraft noise the pace of abatement at the source has been gradual with no short term prospects for substantial relief. - Regulation by the states has for the most part been limited to selected noise sources although some states are now in process of enacting comprehensive noise abatement statutes. - Most noise abatement regulation has taken place at the local level by means of general noise ordinances or ordinances directed to specific noise sources or by the creation of "quiet zones". - Both State and local governmental levels are handicapped in police power regulation of some of the more critical noise sources as a result of preemptive Federal legislation (aircraft noise) or by the threat of impinging upon a strong national interest in maintaining the free flow of interstate commerce. - Very little attention has been given to construction equipment or site noise, or to domestic noise sources. - Enforcement of noise abatement State statutes and municipal noise ordinances has been notoriously spasmodic and uniformly weak; in general, noise control enforcement has been placed on already overburdened State highway patrols or local police officers. - While both the Federal government and State governments have been slow to intervene in the noise regulatory area, certain trends point to a substantially increased level of effort: Federal level: Noise abatement (occupational) of all businesses operating in interstate commerce, Construction site noise abatement under the Construction Safety Act, Highway design to reduce noise effects. State level: Enactment of comprehensive environmental quality statutes, including environmental noise abatement codes, Enactment of specific legislation designed to control the total noise emissions of vehicles and to regulate the noise level operations of vehicles. Local level: Initial efforts by a few cities to enact comprehensive Environmental Noise Codes covering all or most of the serious noise sources and noise environments subject to municipal regulation, Growing sophistication at all governmental levels in noise abatement and control techniques, including the establishment of decibel levels to replace or supplement verbal-subjective standards, Increasing disposition to broaden coverage of noise sources and noise environments by regulatory schemes and to disseminate through labelling or by other means useful information on noise dangers and abatement techniques to the general public. II - Among the more significant continuing problems in the regulation of environmental noise identified by the Report are the following: - Lack of officials and organized public interest in aggressive noise abatement programs. - Conflict of the social interest in noise abatement with other social values such as safety or free expression which are accorded higher priority in the scheme of social interests. - Intensification of the stress between Federal efforts and State/local noise abatement efforts, especially in those regulatory contexts where Federal preemptive legislation is involved. - Continuing difficulty by State or local authorities to regulate noise to the satisfaction of local conditions and needs where such regulation requires control over the noise source or effects of vehicles, equipment, and appliances regularly moving in or operating in interstate commerce. - Continuing difficulty, due to the multiplicity of noise sources and noise environments, of determining what noise sources or effects are to be controlled by what level of government with respect to the setting of standards or to operating procedures, having appropriate regard for the need of uniformity of regulation in some areas and the need for diversity of regulation to suit unique local conditions in others.

Civil Aviation Studies and Interagency Coordinating Organizations - Volume 1
Carl Modig
December 1974
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A background information the federal noise abatement program, past and present federal organizations set up to coordinate civil aviation policy are described, including those dealing with the aircraft noise problem. Commissions and agency task groups who studied civil aviation problems are also described. Descriptions include membership, authorization, outline history, objectives, activities, staff, outputs (reports, proposals, etc.), impact, and mechanisms for modifications of organizational structure or goals. The evolution of these organizations from after World War II to the present is traced, both those coordinating research those coordinating operational policy. Typical problems that have been encountered by various organizations are discussed. Some conclusions of the study are: (1) in the early 1960's there was no institution actively coordinating federal aircraft noise abatement activities; (2) much of the impetus for better coordination has come from Congress; (3) successful coordination requires high-level agency and Administration support; (4) the host agency may have difficulty securing cooperation of other agencies.

San Francisco International Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Philadelphia International Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Calculator Airport Noise Method Volume I: User's Guide
John Moran
December 1977
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This Volume I (User's Guide) is intended for use by persons wishing to perform a simple but accurate noise prediction at selected points around an airport with a programmable calculator. These persons need not have acoustical training. Acquaintance with basic airport operations and with the Texas Instrument Model 59 Calculator are required.

O'Hare International Airport - 1978 Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) 30/40
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Environmental Impact Statement - Review Guidelines for Airport/Aircraft Noise
Edward H. Robbins; Edward D. Studholme
March 1975
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INM - Integrated Noise Model - Version 3 - User's Guide
Mary Catherine Flythe
October 1982
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This document contains the instructions to execute the Integrated Nose Model (INM), Version 3. INM Version 3 is the state-of-the-art computer tool for determining the total impact of aircraft noise at and around airports. This manual contain a general description of elements of an airport study case and specific instructions for preparing the input for a case. INM Version 3 supersedes Version 2 which was released in September 1979. This document replaces "INM, Integrated Noise Model, Version 2, User's Guide," (Report No. FAA-EE-79-09).

Examination of Selected Alternative Means of Achieving Significant Aircraft/Airport Noise Reduction
Robert D. Rudich
May 1973
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This report, the product of thirteen man/days of research of currently available documentation, analysis and preparation, proposes to produce most of the answers to most of the same questions toward which the Department of Transportation's Office of Noise Abatement has been addressing many, many times the same amount of manpower and hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past four years. It is recognized that some of the data herein have been derived as a result of that effort; however, it must concomitantly be realized by the reader that a good portion of the aforecited effort is not yet complete. Therefore what follows is the writer's best assessment of the values, shortcomings, costs, time-framing and feasibility of the aircraft noise abatement and prevention alternatives examined. This is particularly true in the section of the report dealing with recommended combinations of selected strategies.

Sound Exposure Level Versus Distance Curves for Civil Aircraft
Dwight E. Bishop; John F. Mills; Jane M. Beckmann
February 1976
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This report provides sound exposure level (SEL) data for civil aircraft in a form useful for day/night average level (DNL) calculations. The SEL data are presented in tabular form in this report; the report also briefly summarizes the data sources and technical analyses used in developing the noise data. Noise data are included for all major current civil transport and business jet aircraft and for most general aviation aircraft. Data are also provided for possible retrofit of low bypass ratio (LBPR) turbofan aircraft with acoustically lined nacelles. As in the companion report which presents effective perceived noise level versus distance curves for civil aircraft, the correlation of noise level data with aircraft operations (in terms of aircraft speed and engine operating parameters) varies in detail - from specific curves for different engine parameters and speeds for major civil transport aircraft, to generalized noise curves for rather broad categories of propeller aircraft. Section II presents the noise data. Section III describes the sources of noise data, outlines analysis methods, and discusses some of the technical problems involved in developing the noise curves.

Sound Exposure Level Versus Distance Curves for Civil Aircraft
Dwight E. Bishop; John F. Mills; Jane M. Beckmann
October 1974
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This report provides sound exposure level (SEL) data for civil aircraft in a form useful for day/night average level (DNL) calculations. The SEL data are presented in tabular form in this report; the report also briefly summarizes the data sources and technical analyses used in developing the noise data. Noise data are included for all major current civil transport and business jet aircraft and for most general aviation aircraft. Data are also provided for possible retrofit of 4-engine low bypass ratio (LBPR) turbofan aircraft with acoustically lined nacelles. As in the companion report which presents effective perceived noise level versus distance curves for civil aircraft, the correlation of noise level data with aircraft operations (in terms of aircraft speed and engine operating parameters) varies in detail - from specific curves for different engine parameters and speeds for major civil transport aircraft, to generalized noise curves for rather broad categories of propeller aircraft. Section II presents the noise data. Section III describes the sources of noise data, outlines analysis methods, and discusses some of the technical problems involved in developing the noise curves.

General Description of a Method for Desk Calculation of Day-Night Levels (Ldn) Resulting From Civil Aircraft Operations
Dwight E. Bishop
July 1975
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This memo outlines a basic method for estimating day-night (Ldn) values at a particular land area resulting from aircraft operations. The method is illustrated in Section IV by means of several examples. Desk calculations will provide the Ldn value at defined ground locations for noise resulting from aircraft takeoffs or landings from an airport. The calculations utilize noise charts which will provide noise information for most civil aircraft currently operating in the country for a variety of takeoff and landing operations (including noise abatement procedures). The handbook will provide information for estimating Ldn values for both: (a) preliminary assessment where detailed information and aircraft operation is not available and (b) detailed assessment when accurate information on aircraft operations and flight paths known. Naturally, the later assessment requires much more extensive information on aircraft operations and may be much more time consuming to calculate. The method has been developed for desk calculations of Ldn values for relatively small land areas. It is not ntended for developing noise exposure contours around an entire airport. Desk calculations will generally be much too time consuming to develop full sets of contours. When noise contours over a considerable area are needed, several computer programs are currently available and should be used. The basic noise information which is to be provided ntheandbook is identical to that used in some of the current computer programs for calculating Ldn contours. The basic steps in calculating Ldn values are relatively simple and straightforward. However, since the number of calculations multiply by the number of types of aircraft and the kinds of operations involved, the calculations can be quite lengthy when calculating noise exposure near an airport where the noise is due to operations on several runways by a variety of different types of aircraft.

Economic Impact of Proposed Airport Noise Regulations, R77-4 - Volume IV: Economic Analysis of O'Hare and Midway Airports
Marvin Frankel; Lise Zwisler
November 1981
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Economic Impact of Proposed Airport Noise Reulations, R77-4 - Volume II: Economic Analysis of Public Airports Outside Chicago
Marvin Frankel; Lise Zwisler
June 1981
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Aeroacoustics of Flight Vehicles: Theory and Practice - Volume 1: Noise Sources
Harvey H. Hubbard
August 1991
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This document is oriented toward flight vehicles and emphasizes the underlying concepts of noise generation, propagation, prediction, and control. Authors are from government, industry, and academia in the United States, England, and Canada. This volume includes all the chapters that relate directly to the source of flight vehicle noise: Propeller and Propfan Noise; Rotor Noise; Turbomachinery Noise; Jet Noise Classical Theory and Experiments; Noise From Turbulent Shear Flows; Jet Noise Generated by Large-Scale Coherent Motion; Airframe Noise; Propulsive Lift Noise; Combustion and Core Noise; and SOnic Boom.

O'Hare Extension Project - Noise & Vibration Study - Final Report
Steven L. Wolfe
August 1979
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This final report "Noise and Vibration Study for the O'Hare Extension" is composed of three separate reports, I. Noise and Vibration Survey Report, II. Design Recommendations and Evaluations Report, and III. Noise and Vibration Control Design Criteria Report. Section I, Noise and Vibration Survey, includes the results of the environmental noise and vibration survey, noise and vibration levels from existing CTA operations, identification of noise impact, and recommended noise and vibration control measures for wayside noise, station platform noise and ground-borne noise at the O'Hare Airport. Section II, Design Recommendations and Evaluations, includes recommendations on track systems, station acoustics, ancillary transit facilities, noise and air pressure control associated with fan shafts, vent shafts and portals, acoustical barriers and construction noise. Section III, Noise and Vibration Control Design Criteria, presents an outline of noise and vibration control requirements and procedures for use in facility design.

Aircraft Noise Supplement to Draft Environmental Impact Statement
August 1988
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The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Mid Atlantic Electronic Warfare Range was distributed during the first week of June. The DEIS indicated that an update to the 1974 noise analysis for the BT-11/Piney Island range was being prepared as part of a MCAS Cherry Point AICUZ update. The following information incorporates that published in the DEIS and that provided in the "Aircraft Noise Survey for Mid Atlantic Electronic Warfare Range/BT-11 North Carolina" prepared by the firm of Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc.

Effects of Aircraft Noise and Sonic Booms on Fish and Wildlife: A Research Needs Workshop
August 1988
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Methodology for the Measurement and Analysis of Aircraft Sound Levels Within National Parks
Paul H. Dunholter; Vincent E. Mestre; Roswell A. Harris; Louis F. Cohn
March 1989
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This report contains the results of an initial study with the National Park Service to address various technical issues relating to the assessment of sound from aircraft overflights within parks. These technical issues include techniques for measuring aircraft sounds within park/wilderness settings and determining the acoustic parameters that are important in describing aircraft sound within these settings. As part of future studies, sociological surveys of park/wilderness users will be used to quantify the visito response from these aircraft operations. A goal of these studies is to develop policies to manage aircraft noise within various park/wilderness areas.

Information on FAA Certification of Aircraft
Carl Modig
January 1975
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Under Section 7 of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-574), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized to propose to the Federal Aviation Administration, aircraft noise regulations, including the application of such regulations in the issuance, amendment, modification, suspension or revocation of any certificate authorized by the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. 1431). This study was undertaken to furnish EPA with an overview of aircraft type certification regulations (e.g., original type, supplemental, airworthiness, etc.) through which aviation noise regulations are or could be implemented.

In accordance with a recommendation by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration is considering an amendment to Section 91.87 of the Federal Aviation regulations which would provide noise relief to communities in the vicinity of airports by prescribing a two-segment Instrument Landing System (ILS) appraoch for civil turbojet engine-powered airplanes. This proposed rule is one of three rules recommended by the EPA for the control of noise during the approach and landing of turbojet engine-powered airplanes.

An Assessment of the Federal Noise Research, Development, and Demonstration Activities FY73 - FY 75
Eugene E. Berkaup; Stephen R. Cordle; Franklin D. Hart; George R. Simon
June 1975
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The Federal noise research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities during fiscal years 1973 through 1975 are examined to determine the contribution of these efforts to the control of environmental noise and to the understanding of the effects of noise. An analysis is made of the research activities in the areas of noise effects, aircraft noise, surface vehicle noise, and machinery noise. The principal sources of information used are the EPA interagency noise research panel's reports on the Federal noise RD&D activities during the FY 73-75 time period and the major noise source candidates which have been identified or are under consideration by the EPA.

In accordance with a recommendation by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration is considering an amendment to Section 91.85 of the Federal Aviation regulations which would provide noise relief to communities in the vicinity of airports by prescribing reduced flap setting procedures for civil turbojet powered airplanes. This proposal is one of three rules recommended by the EPA for the control of noise during the approach and landing of turbojet engine-powered airplanes.

Noise Control Ordinance Development: A Guidebook for Local Officials
May 1982
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The future of America's cities depends on how effectively they can compete as desirable places in which to live and work. Much of their attractiveness is determined by the quality of their environment. Noise is adversely affecting the quality of urban life and is a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of our cities' residents. NLC is committed to assisting communities throughout the United States in resolving their various noise problems through the Community and Airport ECHO Program, by promoting the "Buy Quiet" program, and by preparing this publication to emphasize the important steps that a community should take in developing a noise control ordinance. This publication is a step-by-step guide that local officials can use as they undertake the ordinance development process.

Statement of Kenneth M. Meed - Aviation Noise: A National Policy is Needed
September 1990
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Interim Report by Federal City Council Task Force on National Airport
June 1980
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In January, 1980, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Goldschmidt proposed operating rules for National Airport which would sharply limit its growth, reduce noise, alter the mix of aircraft, eliminate late night operations, and possibly increase the number of cities served. The purpose of these rules and the accompanying environmental impact assessment was to define operating limits which will allow master planning for physical improvement of the Airport's facilities. The Federal City Council offered to play a facilitating role in bringing about some consensus on the Airport's future. Since early this year, a Task Force of forty Council members has been involved in an intensive examination of the issues and options. More than two dozen meetings have been held with governmental officials and representatives of citizen groups, private aircraft owners and operators, and airline organizations. Orientation visits have been made to the three major regional airports and 900 pages of background material have been reviewed. The Task Force has focused on the proposed rules, preliminary plans for physical redevelopment and financeing alternatives. As a result of this review, the Task Force believes the FAA's proposed rules for National Airport's operation reasonably accommodate the competing interests at stake - significantly reducing noise while setting the stage for more convenient passenger service. A passenger ceiling should be set somewhere between 16 and 18 million passengers annually. National should primarily serve short haul traffic from relatively nearby cities. When two flights are competing for the same slot, the shorter flight should have priority. To maintain the new annual limit in the face of increasing demand, the frequency of major airline flights should be reduced through cutbacks in slot allocations and admittance of wide-bodied aircraft, after demonstration of their ability to operate safely at National under adverse weather conditions. Commuter aircraft, generally serving close-in communities, should be awarded up to seven additional slots on an as-needed basis. Construction of additional general aviation facilities at Dulles should be expedited and shared use of existing facilities at Andrews AFB, Davison Airfield, and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center should be explored. The proposed 10:30 p.m. closing time for all aircraft operations should be implemented, although scheduled aircraft that depart in time to land at National before 10:30 but are delayed enroute should be allowed to land. The Task Force believes the perimeter rule is probably no longer necessary because airplane limitations, the annual passenger limit, fewer airline slots, and a short haul preference rule - if adopted - will serve to limit traffic in to the Airport. If one is to be kept, however, the existing 650 mile perimeter with seven grand-fathered exemptions is a reasonable one, as demand sometimes already exceeds the number of available slots. Improvements in the physical condition of Airport facilities to better accommodate both aircraft and passengers should be made as quickly as possible, with costs recovered over time through user charges.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Dulles Airport Access Road - Outer Parallel Toll Roads
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Community Involvement Manual
William J. Willkie; F. Roy Madgwick; Robert A. Sweatt; Caroline A. Grievson; Eileen M. Carlton
August 1990
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This manual is written for planning professional and others dealing with airport development and the concerns airport communities. Community involvement is a broad and evolving area of study. The manual is designed to provide practical guidelines for involving the community in a variety of aviation planning situations. Since planning and community involvement situations will vary with different airports, communitites, issues, and points in the planning process, this manual outlines a process for identifying community involvement needs, evaluating techniques to meet these needs and designing a workable program.

Noise Exposure of Civil Aircarrier Airplanes Through the Year 2000 - Volume II: Appendices A through F
Carroll Bartel; Louis C. Sutherland
February 1979
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This report presents results of an estimate of the national exposure to aircarrier aircraft noise through the year 2000. The forecast was carried out to show the effect of two types of noise abatement options. The first consisted of modifications to FAR Part 36 proposed to the Federal Aviation Administration (Notice 76-22) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which would establish lower noise limits for newly designed aircraft in the years 1980 and 1985. The second type consisted of alternative power cutback procedures (FAA AC 91-39 and two variations of ALPA/Northwest Airlines procedure) coupled with minor variations on approach procedures. The effect of these proposed options was evaluated from estimates of the total area or number of people exposed within selected day/night average noise level contours around all of the nation's airports. The analysis assumed future aircraft just meet the various noise rules considered. It also included: (1) two levels of fleet growth; (2) a national model for noise exposure using statistically average airports; and (3) a model for population density around aircarrier airports based on 1970 census. The study emphasized noise exposure for subsonic aircarrier aircraft; however, a brief analysis is also shown for the isolated exposure of only supersonic aircraft operations which would result from a worldwide fleet of SST aircraft resulting from only 16 Concordes to a total of 100 SST aircraft.

Noise Exposure of Civil Aircarrier Airplanes Through the Year 2000 - Volume I: Methods, Procedures, Results
Carroll Bartel; Louis C. Sutherland
February 1979
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National Measure of Aircraft Noise Impact Through the Year 2000
Carroll Bartel; Larry Godby; Louis Sutherland
June 1975
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This program was undertaken for the Office of Noise Abatement and Control, Environmental Protection Agency, to evaluate the nationwide community impact of aircraft noise through the year 2000, considering a number of aircraft/airport noise reduction alternatives. The study was based on the evaluation of operations of three airports - Los Angeles International, St. Louis, and Washington Dulles. Primary noise reduction alternatives were applied at each of the facilities for the 1987 and 2000 time periods. Secondary abatement alternatives were evaluated for 1987 only. The effectiveness of the various alternatives was measured in terms of the total area impacted under the NEF 30 and 40 contours at the three airports. This area was then increased by a constant factor to obtain an estimate of the impact at the national level. The report also contains an estimate of the total area within the NEF 20 contours and the impacted land area for NEF 20, 30, and 40 exclusive of airport property and water. This study utilized, in part, the much more detailed results for 23 airports from the "Airport Noise Reduction Forecast" study recently completed by Wyle for the Department of Transportation. However, this study differs substancially from the Department of Transportation program in that it is based on analysis at only three airports, includes no cost or population data, extends beyond the year 1987, and focuses only on estimating trends in aircraft noise impact to the year 2000 in order to evaluate the potential requirement for research on new aircraft/airport noise reduction alternatives which may not currently be under development.

Calculations of Maximum A-Weighted Sound Levels (dBA) Resulting From Civil Aircraft Operations
June 1978
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This document presents a procedure for calculating and documenting in an environmental impact statement or negative declaration the maximum A-weighted sound level (in units of A-weighted decibels or dBA) for single aircraft operations at specified noise-sensitive locations in the vicinity of civil airports. The procedure will enable Air Traffic and Flight Standards personnel to calculate the maiximum A-weighted sound level resulting from an aircraft takeoff or landing at any specified ground location in the vicinity of an airport. The procedure is relatively simple and straightforward. It has been developed to assist agency personnel in complying with the requirements of FAA Order 1050.1B, "Policies and Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts", paragraph 324b(2)(b). This guidance material includes aircraft flight profile information by aircraft type and mode of operation, and peak noise level as a function of slant range to the aircraft. This procedure is not intended for developing noise contours around an entire airport or for calculating the maximum sound level at numerous points. If noise contours over a considerable area are needed, or if the airport in question has high aircraft activity, especially numerous turbojet operations, or flight tracks, it will be more prudent to use the FAA computer model - The Integrated Noise Model. This document also includes as appendix that discusses the impact of noise on people and case studies for Air Traffic and Flight Standards personnel. The case studies, along with the appendix, represent examples of the documentation that could be included as the noise section of an environmental impact statement or negative declaration. Actions which require an environmental impact statement, negative declaration, or environmental assessment are listed in FAA Order 1050.1B, Appendix 3, paragraph 4 for Air Traffic, and Appendix 4, paragraph 4 for Flight Standards. Requirements for a noise analysis are found in paragraph 324 of the order.

First Report on Status and Progress of Noise Research and Control rams in the Federal Government - Volume 2 Research Panel Reports
June 1975
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Issued in compliance with Section 4(c)(3) of the Noise Control Act of 1972 (PL 92-574), this report describes Federal noise control and research activities and establishes a baseline of agency program information that may be used in subsequent years to assess progress in the Federal Government's noise control efforts. Thirty-nine Federal agencies were requested to submit information on their noise related activities to EPA. Volume I of the report contains a summary and assessment of reported activities which are described both by agency and by the following functional areas: noise standards and regulations, noise abatement, hearing conservation, technical assistance, and research. Volume II consists of four reports describing Federal agency noise research, development, and demonstration programs in the areas of surface vehicle noise, aviation noise, noise effects, and machinery noise. The reports include project descriptions and fiscal data and were prepared jointly by the membership of four interagency research panels, formed in 1974 by EPA.

First Report on Status and Progress of Noise Research and Control rams in the Federal Government - Volume 1 Report on Status and Progress
June 1975
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Airfields Environment Trust - Airfields and the Environment: Can Local Authorities Hold the Balance?
June 1989
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One-day conference on the role of local authorities in the development of airfields and the control of the adverse impact of business and general aviation on the environment.

Review and Analysis of Present and Planned FAA Noise Regulatory Actions and Their Consequences Regarding Aircraft and Airport Operations
July 1973
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The purpose of this report is to examine the existing and proposed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and to consider their effectiveness in furnishing protection to the public health and welfare and to consider their effectiveness in furnishing protection to the public health and welfare and to consider whether they adequately exploit the available technology. This report begins with a review of the legislative history of noise control and briefly identifies the regulatory status of the FAA and relevant noise control actions of several state and local authorities....

Study of Soundproofing Public Buildings Near Airports
April 1977
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Pursuant to Special Studies, Section 26(3) under Appendix B, of Airport and Airway Development Act Amendments of 1976, Public Law 94-353, this study was undertaken to develop the data and procedures which can be used to determine the feasibility, practicability and costs of soundproofing public buildings near airports. Costing of soundproofing public airports includes: schools, hospitals, and public health facilities near airports.

Airport Noise Abatement Planning
June 1977
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A key strategy in the campaign against aviation noise is airport noise abatement planning. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under the Congressional mandate of the 1972 Noise Control Act, has developed as airport noise abatement planning process which is a step by step appraoch to a quieter environment. This pamphlet - for citizens and community leaders - provides an introduction to this planning process.

Department of Defense: Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) Program
April 1977
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This document is intended to assist Federal agencies in understanding the Department of Defense's program to abate noise at military airfields. It covers some of the important features of the Air Installation Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) Program, its problems and relationships to other agency noise programs.

Aircraft Flight Procedures Program: Data Base Development
L.A. Ronk; T.A. Gates; W.S. Wilkinson
March 1981
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The purpose fo this study was to identify and collect performance and operational data and information required to construct flight paths and performance schedules for selected commercial aircarrier aircraft types powered by low-by-pass ratio and high-by-pass ratio turbofan engines. The performance and operational data and information can be used to determine the flight paths and performance schedules for aircraft operating in accordance with specified flight procedures, and over a range of airport temperatures and airport pressure altitudes. In addition, this study effort also included an evaluation of available flight procedures computer programs developed by various organizations such as aircraft manufacturers, consultants, and the Federal government (NASA, FAA, etc.) The purpose of evaluating these programs was to identify existing analytical and computer programming work which can be used in developing a modified computer program model to generate aircraft flight path and performance schedule data which was compatible with the input data requirements of the FAA's INM and USAF's NOISEMAP.

A Study of Soundproofing Requirements for Residences Adjacent to Commercial Airports
Ben H. Sharp; Vijay K. Kahii; Eric Stusnick
August 1981
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As part of an overall systems program being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to examine options for the reduction of aircraft noise impact, this study was conducted to estimate the costs of soundproofing dwellings within the Ldn 65 noise contours at major U.S. commercial airports. The goal of the study is to achieve an interior sound level of Ldn 45 dB. The nation was divided into eleven regions, each one incorporating areas of similar dwelling construction. In this way, it was possible to specify the noise reduction of dwellings on a regional basis, taking local features into account. To determine the distribution of dwelling types in each region, and to obtain detailed information on local dwelling characteristics that affect noise reduction, field surveys were conducted at one airport in each region. The airports surveyed were selected on the basis that the local dwelling characteristics were representative of the respective region. The information obtained was used to identify the types of modifications most suitable for soundproofing dwellings in each region. The selection of soundproofing modifications required for construction elements in each dwelling category in each region was madeusng a computerized cost optimization procedure to achieve the interior noise criteria at the least cost. The costs for adding a ventilation system, required to replace the natural ventilation that occurs through leaks in the dwelling structure, were then added to the costs for structural modifications to provide an overall cost for soundproofing.

Procedures to Estimate Airport Residential Relocation Costs
Richard Chais; Joseph Felder
April 1981
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The cost of relocating private residences exposed to excessive aviation noise levels at the nation's airports is a major factor in determining the viability of a comprehensive airport relocation and soundproofing program. The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 is reviewed to determine applicability to a relocation program and to define airport-specific relocation cases and costs. Procedures are provided for: (1) developing a well-defined set of cases for which relocation costs may be estimated; (2) determining the costs in current dollars for each expense item in each relocation case; and (3) determining the frequency of occurrence for each case as applied to specific airports. Total costs for all cases for a hypothetical airport relocation effort are provided. Supporting data and equations used are presented.

Airport Noise Litigation - Case Law Review (1973-1980)
Ricarda L. Bennett
April 1981
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This report examines the judicial trends in airport noise litigation by analyzing the decisions from many of the relevant legal cases since the 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision in City of Burbank v. Lockheed Air Terminal Inc. The conflict centers upon who controls the source of the aircraft noise and who is liable for aircraft noise-related damages. Th significant issues arising out of these various airport/aircraft noise cases examine this conflict from four viewpoints: 1) who is liable for aircraft noiserela damages? 2) what is the scope of airport use restrictions? 3) what are the legal theories and trends in awarding aircraft noise-related damages? 4) what is the effect of land use planning and environmental impact statements on airport noise control? This extensive case law review indicates that the courts are continuing to hold the airport proprieter liable for aircraft noise-related damages. The judiciary is also expanding the legal theories and granting recovery for noise-related effects on people under the nuisance theory of emotional distress as well as under the traditional inverse condemnation theory for deprivation of property.

Aeroacoustics of Flight Vehicles: Theory and Practice - Volume 2: Noise Control
Harvey H. Hubbard
August 1991
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This document is oriented toward flight vehicles and emphasizes the underlying concepts of noise generation, propagation, prediction, and control. Authors are from government, industry, and academia in the United States, England, and Canada. This volume includes those chapters that relate to flight vehicle noise control and operations: Human Response to Aircraft Noise; Atmospheric Propagation; Theoretical Models for Duct Acoustic Propagation and Radiation; Design and Performance of Duct Acoustic Treatment; Jet Noise SUppression; Interior Noise; Flyover-Noise Measurement and Prediction; and Quiet Aircraft Design and Operational Characteristics.

Report to Congress - Effects of Airport Noise on a Neighboring State
October 1980
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This report is submitted to Congress in response to Section 8 of the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-609) which resulted from Congressional concern that aircraft noise from some airports may impact communities located in another State. The question was whether the communities in the other State could effect change at the airport to provide relief for their citizens. The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency were directed to study jointly this issue and determined that Philadelphia International Airport satisfied the selection criteria in the Act. The Act further directed that the study be conducted in cooperation with the airport operator, appropriate Federal, State, and local officials, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization which, in this case, is the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). This led to formation of an Advisory Committee under the auspices of the DVRPC to assist the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration. This study illustrates that regional advisory bodies can work effectively on problems which cross political boundaries. The study included three semi-independent programs: (1) Noise Measurement, (2) Noise Modeling, and (3) Community Response. The objective of the measurement program was to obtain actual aircraft noise levels in selected residential areas around the Philadelphia International Airport. These data were used to verify the results of the Noise Modeling Program. The FAA's Integrated Noise Model (INM), a computerized noise simulation, was used to predict aircraft noise levels around the airport as a function of all of the pertinent parameters, i.e., types and numbers of aircraft operating at the airport (both current and forecast for 1990 and 2000), flight tracks, operating procedures, and time of day of aircraft operations. The Community Response Program made the public aware of the noise study through standard public information techniques, a toll-free telephone complaint service, conduct of a community opinion survey to determine how people feel about the airport and its environmental impact, and establishment of an Advisory Committee to assist in the selection of noise control options. The telephone complaint service registered 296 complaints during the 118 days in which it was operated. One thousand seven hundred and twenty-three interviews were conducted among residents within approximately 20 miles of Philadelphia International Airport, of whom 447, or 26.0 percent, lived in New Jersey and the remainder in Pennsylvania. Crime was identified most often as the most serious environmental problem, while noise (from all sources including aircraft) was fifth among the eight categories specified. The noise exposure conditions, and the relative effectiveness of alternative noise control actions, were investigated for the existing 1980 operations and for projected 1990 and 2000 operations. Alternative noise control actions were grouped into five categories: airport layout; airport and airspace use; aircraft operations; land use; and noise program management. Detailed results of these analyses are reported, in terms of the population impacted by several values of Average Day-Night Sound Level (Ldn), which includes a 10-decibel added penalty on nighttime aircraft operations. On this basis, the most effective noise control option for Philadelphia International Airport appears to be a reduction in nighttime operations, in combination with a preferential runway use program to keep the remaining nighttime flights away from populated areas. These actions would reduce aircraft noise impacts in the affected areas of both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Before any such use restrictions should be considered by the operator of Philadelphia International Airport, however, a more detailed syudy should be made to account for all economic factors which could be affected by those restrictions. Any aviation-related options should be complemented by a continuing citizen involvement program and a broad land-use planning program.

Quarterly Newsletter if the Standing Committee on Environmental Law - Aviation Faces Turbulence Over Airport Noise Pollution
James F. Carr
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The Aviation Noise Abatement Controversy: Magnificent Laws, Noisy Machines, and the Legal Liability Shuffle
John M. Weriich; Richard P. Krinsky
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The Effects of Sonic Boom and Similar Impulsive Noise on Structures
December 1971
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A brief discussion is given of the physical nature of somin booms, and other impulsive noises, and the parameters, such as over-pressure, duration, and mechanical impulse, which are used to characterize booms. This is followed by an overview of the response of structures - particularly buildings - to sonic booms and a review of the damage history observed due to supersonic overflights. The report concludes with a summary of the observed effects of impulsive noise on terrain and natural structures.

Noise Effects of Concorde Operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport - November 1977 through November 1978
William C. Sperry
April 1979
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The FAA measured the noise at several communities in the vicinity of JFK International Airport due to the operations of Concorde and subsonic aircraft. The FAA reports are factual and valuable but do not provide much discussion of the effects (current or potential) of Concorde noise on the Public. This report presents the results of an analysis by the EPA of the FAA noise data which leads to interpretations of the effects of Concorde operations on the public that are different in significant respect from what might be assumed from a cursory reading of the FAA reports. The EPA analysis of the noise levels shows that Concorde arrival noise was as much as 6 dB noisier than expected from FAR 36 test results and that Concorde operations alone establish a noise floor which under some projected numbers of operations exceed EPA goals for noise exposure. The significance of the noise floor is that regardless of whatever noise control is implemented in the future in regard to subsonic aircraft, the noise exposure will not decrease below the limiting levels set by Concordes. If there were 32 Concorde operations per day at JFK, for instance, only 7,000 people out of 188,000 exposed to Ldn 65 (NEF 30) would recieve any relief even if the subsonic fleet were significantly silenced after 1985. The EPA analysis of the record of complaints shows that there were about 100 times more complaints per Concorde operations than there were per subsonic operation.

Helicopter Noise Survey for Selected Cities in the Contiguous United States
Robert Main; Andrew Joshi; David Couts; Leslie Hilten
March 1985
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The FAA has conducted a series of noise surveys in the following urban areas: Chicago, IL; Long Beach, CA; New Orleans, LA; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA. In each metropolitan area, noise measurements were made at three of four heliports or helipads. Land use surrounding the heliports ranged from residential to industrial. Noise levels for Lmax were recorded during each test at each heliport. Also recorded were ambient noise levels which were used as a basis for comparison of noise associated with helicopter operations versus urban background noise levels.

Analysis of Alternative Noise Metrics for Airport Noise Assessment
Vijay R. Desai; John E. Wesler; Kevin A. Bradley
February 1991
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The purpose of this report is to provide a quantitative analysis to determine if a single-event noise metric will provide additional insight and sensitivity in the assessment of airport community noise impacts, in comparison with the accepted DNL, and whether such a metric would lead to a different decision regarding the adoption of alternative noise abatement actions. By comparing noise impacts around representative airports, determined through the use of a single-event noise metric based on Sound Exposure Level (SEL), with those determined through the use of DNL, and in turn comparing both with an intuitive judgment of those noise impacts, it was intended to determine if the SEL-based metric provided advantages over DNL, primarily on those communities with DNLs less than 65 dB.

Assessment or the Applicability of Existing Health & Welfare Criteria to General Aviation Aircraft Noise and to General Aviation Airport Communities
Larry A. Ronk
March 1980
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Existing metrics of environmental noise and its impact on people are reviewed for their suitability in assessing the impact of general aviation (GA) noise on people in airport communities. GA aircraft consist of noncommercial aircraft in propellor-driven, jet, and helicopter categories. In a recent year over 124 million GA operations were performed at approximately 6,000 public-use airports. Available criteria (dose response relationships) are discussed in detail for various health effects of noise, focusing on individual and community annoyance responses, but also including noise-induced hearing loss, communication interference, sleep disturbance, and nonauditory physiological effects. It is concluded that there are only marginal differences in the way several noise metrics predict individual response; therefore, the simplest measurement (A-weighting without a duration correction) is recommended. For community response, no existing annoyance criteria may be entirely applicable to GA airport communities, based on results of several studies. For the time being the criteria developed by Schultz should be used. Information in appendices include a bibliography of health effects of aircraft noise; statistics on the mix of GA aircraft types, distribution of daily GA operations by airport types, and populations density around GA airports; and GA flight procedures.

Airfields Environment Federation - Surrey's Development Control Guidance for GA Neighbourhoods
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Aircraft Noise and the Market for Residential Housing: Empirical Results for Seven Selected Airports
Jon P. Nelson
September 1978
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The annoyance due to aircraft noise is capitalized into the value of residential property. Measurement of relationships between aircraft noise levels and property values provides a means by which to calculate the benefits of noise abatement. This study seeks to obtain a measure of the effect on property values of a decibel change in Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) levels, other factors remaining constant. The resulting damage cost is interpreted as the amount individuals would be willing to pay for noise abatement, given that the change in noise levels is small. Census block and census tract data are employed for small geographic areas (about two miles radius) near seven selected major U.S. airports. In each of seven cases, the results indicate that aircraft noise has a negative and statistically significant effect on residential property values. Translating the coefficients into percentages yields a noise depreciation index in the range -0.29 to -0.84 percent per decibel change in NEF level, with a simple average value of -0.55 percent. However, the coefficient estimates for six airports are stable around a weighted-mean value of -0.50 percent. This result is consistent with the average of values obtained in earlier statistical studies of the same relationship.

Audibility and Annoyance of En Route Noise of Unducted Fan Engines
Sanford A. Fidell; Linda A. Hutchings; Marie Helweg-Larsen; Laura A. Silvati
April 1990
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Aircraft flyovers heard in high ambient noise urban environments are composed in large part of high absolute level, broadband noise. In contrast, noise exposure created en route by aircraft powered by unducted fan engines is expected to be relatively low in level, but to contain prominent low frequency tonal energy. These tones may be readily audible in low ambient noise rural environments. The annoyance of noise intrusions of low absolute level has been shown to be closely related to their audibility. Thus, one way to predict the annoyance of high altitude overflights by aircraft equipped with unducted fan engines is to estimate their audibility relative to that of conventionally powered aircraft in various ambient noise conditions. These predictions may be converted into estimates of the probability of high annoyance by means of a dosage-response relationship derived from laboratory data about the annoyance of individual noise intrusions. The latter estimates may in turn be applied to populations exposed to unducted fan engine noise over a range of assumed exposure levels. Application of these procedures to several assumed exposure cases suggests that millions of people in rural areas of the United States would be likely to be highly annoyed by the noise of aircraft powered by unducted fan engines.

Sound Levels From Oil and Gas Exploration Activities
James D. Foch; Richard E. Burks
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Directory of Computerized Noise Prediction Models
March 1974
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This Directory was compiled in order to assemble as much information as possible about existing computerized noise prediction programs. The term "computerized noise prediction model" has been deliberately defined broadly, and even includes one calculation method that has not yet been programmed for computer. All items have been roughly categorized as either "equipment design" programs or "environmental noise prediction" programs. In our description of "known users", we have distinguished between "clients" and "computer program recipients". The former receive results generated by a computerized (and usually proprietary) model but have no direct access to the model. The latter have received their own copy of the program, and are, therefore, a more fruitful source of information on the practical vices and virtues of a particular program. Also, it will be seen that some programs are very similar in their inputs and outputs; however, they may differ in the numerical results because of different data sets contained in the built-in tables (example: data for noise signatures of single flyovers, by aircraft type). It was beyond the scope of the present effort to obtain and analyze contents of such data sets. For each detailed information, the documentation or the contact person is the best source.

Actions Affecting Land-Use Compatibility at U.S. Airports
T. Barano; J. Schettino
March 1982
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This report documents the actions taken by airports as a result of recommendations made by Airport Noise Control and Land Use Compatibility (ANCLUS) studies funded by the Airport and Airways Development Act of 1970 (ADAP) and as a result of FY 1980 Federal grants authorized by the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1980.

FAA Air Traffic Activity - FY 1984
Nancy Trembley
September 1984
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This report furnishes terminal and en route air traffic activity information of the National Airspace System. The data have been reported by the FAA-operated Airport Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs), Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs), Flight Service Stations (FSSs), International Flight Service Stations (IFSSs), and Approach COntrol Facilities.

Community Noise Around General Aviation Airports from the Year 1975 to 2000
William J. Galloway; Ricarda L. Bennett
September 1981
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This study forecasts general aviation airport noise from 1975 to the year 2000. It focuses upon noise due to propeller-driven and business jet airplanes that operate at exclusively general aviation airports throughout the country. The results of the study, expressed in terms of geographical area and population within day-night average sound levels of 55 decibels and higher, are estimated at five-year intervals covering this study period. It is projected that the number of general aviation airplanes in the United States will more than double during these years; however; there will not be a comparable increase in the number of airports. The average sound level for the propeller-driven airplanes is not expected to decrease significantly, but the average sound level associated with the projected business jet fleet will decrease by approximately 16 decibels by the year 2000. As greater numbers of quieter airplanes are introduced into the general aviation fleet, the area (outside of the immediate airport boundaries) exposed to various noise levels is expected to decrease. This is accompanied by a reduction in the number of people exposed to a day-night average sound level of 65 decibels from 47,000 people in 1975 to zero population in the year 2000. In contrast, there were 1.2 million people exposed to day-night average sound levels of 55 decibels in 1975 with an expected increase to 1.5 million by the year 2000.

Noise Exposure Around Joint-Use Airports
Richard Burke; Dwight E. Bishop
December 1980
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This report dexcribes a study of present and future exposures of people to noise from airports used by both civilians and military aircraft and predicts how exposure around these airports will be affected by increasingly stringent aircraft noise regulations in the absence of similar regulations of military aircraft.

Second National Conference on General Aviation Airport Noise and Land Use Planning Summary of Proceedings
Edited by John Schettino; Michael Staiano
April 1982
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This report constitutes the proceedings of the three day Second National Conference on General Aviation Airport Noise and Land Use Planning. The main purpose of the Conference was to continue the dialogue initiated at the First National Conference which took place in October of 1979 in Atlanta, Georgia. The emphasis in this conference was the implementation of solutions at the State and local level. Another objective of the Conference was to develop a document that would be useful to those dealing with general aviation airport noise and land-use planning. This report is intended to serve this purpose. The attendees at this Conference showed a greater awareness of the general aviation airport noise situation than at the first Conference. The airport operators and the planners have become more knowledgable in this area, perhaps due, in part, to AECLUC studies at several general aviation airports.

Aviation Noise Effects
J. Steven Newman; Kristy R. Beattie
March 1985
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Design Guide for Reducing Transportation Noise in and Around Buildings
David S. Pallett; Robert Wehrli; Roger D. Kilmer; Thomas L. Quindry
April 1978
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This design guide presents a unified procedure for the selection of noise criteria in and around buildings for the prediction of exterior and interior noise levels arising as a consequence of transportation systems operations, and for the evaluation of the adequacy of building designs with regard to environmental noise. Noise criterion levels are suggested in terms of equivalent sound levels (Leq). Simplified predictive methods enable the estimation of noise levels arising as a consequence of highway, railway, and aircraft operations. The sound isolation provided by the building shell is estimated by means of a now single-figure rating system. Finally, design manipulations which may make possible the improvement of the acoustic conditions in and around buildings are suggested.

Effective Perceived Noise Level Versus Distance Curves for Civil Aircraft
Dwight E. Bishop; John F. Mills; Jane M. Beckman
July 1974
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This report provides effective perceived noise level (EPNL) data for civil aircraft in a form useful for noise exposure forecast (NEF) calculations. The EPNL noise data are presented in graphical and tabular form; the report also summarizes the data sources and technical analyses used in developing the noise data. The noise data will also be furnished to the EPA as a punched card deck, directly suitable for use in the USAF/EPA/NEF computer program. Noise data are included for all major current U.S. civil transport and business jet aircraft and for most general aviation aircraft. Data are also provided for possible retrofit of four-engine low bypass ratio (LBPR) turbofan aircraft, with acoustically lined nacelles. The correlation of noise level data with aircraft operations (in terms of aircraft speed and engine operating parameters) varies in detail, from specific curves for different engine parameters and speeds for major civil transport aircraft to generalized noise curves for rather broad categories of propeller aircraft. Section II presents the noise data. Section III describes the sources of noise data, describes analysis methods used to develop the curves and discusses some of the technical problems involved in developing the noise curves.

Final Report - Assessment of the Applicability of Existing Health and Welfare Criteria to General Aviation Aircraft Noise and to General Aviation Airport Communities
Larry A. Ronk
March 1980
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Existing metrics of environmental noise and its impact on people are reviewed for their suitability in assessing the impact of general aviation (GA) noise on people in airport communities. GA aircraft consist of noncommercial aircraft in propellor-driven, jet, and helicopter categories. In a recent year over 124 million GA operations were performed at approximately 6,000 public-use airports. Available criteria (dose response relationships) are discussed in detail for various health effects of noise, focussing on individual and community annoyance responses, but also including noise-induced hearing loss, communication interference, sleep disturbance, and nonauditory physiological effects. It is concluded that there are only marginal differences in the way several noise metrics predict individual response; therefore, the simplest measurement (A-weighting without a duration correction) is recommended. For community response, no existing annoyance criteria may be entirely appliable to GA airport communities, based on results of several studies. For the time being the criteria developed by Schultz should be used. Information in appendices include a bibliography of health effects of aircraft noise; statistics on the mix of GA aircraft types, distribution of daily GA operations by airport types, and population density around GA airports; and GA flight procedures.

Helicopter Noise Exposure Curves for Use in Environmental Impact Assessment
J. Steven Newman; Edward J. Rickley; Tyrone L. Bland
November 1982
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The FAA has been conducting controlled helicopter noise measurement programs since 1976. The data have been used for a variety of purposes, including evaluation of proposed U.S. and international noise standards and validation of helicopter noise prediction methodologies. This report documents the results of FAA measurement programs conducted in 1976, 1978, and 1980 in a single report with data formatted specifically for environmental impact analyses. In recognition of growing public concern over potentially adverse noise impact associated with helicopter operations, the FAA encourages helicopter and heliport operators to analyze noise impact as part of the normal heliport planning process. The data base contained in this report provides the noise input information necessary to develop helicopter noise exposure footprints or contours using a computer such as the FAA Integrated Noise Model (INM).

Analysis of Helicopter Noise Data Using International Helicopter Noise Certification Standards
J. Steven Newman; Edward J. Rickley; Dennis A. Levanduski; Susan B. Woolridge
March 1986
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This report documents the results of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noise measurement flight test program involving seven helicopters and establishes noise levels using the basic testing, reduction and analysis procedures specified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for helicopter noise certification supplemented with some procedural refinements contained in ICAO Working Group II recommendations for incorporation into the standard. The helicopters analyzed in this report include the Hughes 500 D/E, the Aerospatiale AS 350D (AStar), the Aerospatiale AS 355F (TwinStar), the Aerospatiale SA 365 (Dauphin), the Bell 222 Twin Jet, the Boeing Vertol 234/CH 47-D, and the Sikorsky S-76. The document discusses the volution of international helicopter noise certification procedures and describes in detail the data acquisition, reduction and adjustment procedures. Noise levels are plotted versus the logarithm of maximum gross takeoff weight and are shown relative to the ICAO noise level limits. Data from the ICAO Committee on Aircraft Noise (CAN) Seventh meeting "request for data" are also presented. Reference testing and operational data are provided for each helicopter.

Environmental Noise Assessment Lawton, Oklahoma
Robert M. LaBreche; Michael L. Mendias
April 1976
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Using a simple methodology employing inexpensive equipment as described in this report, Lawton, Oklahoma, assessed environmental nois elevels in their community during the summer of 1975. They measured equivalent sound levels at eleven sites within the city and identified major sources of noise. The results showed only two areas in Lawton with probable adverse noise impacts, both in the vicinity of local airfields. Small aircraft, automobiles, and helicopters were the most prevalent sources of intrusive environmental noises. Jet aircrafts were the most intense.

Report to the Chairman Subcommittee on Aviation Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate - Airport Capacity - Civilian Use of Military Airfields Has Added Little to System Capacity
April 1991
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Noise Control Technology Evaluation for Supersonic Transport Category Aircraft
Kenneth M. Eldred
July 1980
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Noise control technology applicable to supersonic transport (SST) category aircraft is evaluated in view of the restraints of the Noise Control Act of 1972, which restricts both the EPA and the FAA to noise regulations that meet considerations of "safety, economic reasonableness, technological practicability, and appropriateness to type of aircraft." The effect of such constraints on the design goal for second-generation SSTs is considered. The report contains five sections. Section 2 develops a basic perspective on the noise of subsonic and supersonic aircraft and the general relationships between their airframe and engine performance characteristics, noise certification standards and noise impact. Section 3 summarizes the status of individual elements of noise control technology including engine, aerodynamics, and operational procedures. Section 4 reviews some of the integrated airfram-engine noise integration studies, and Section 5 attempts to summarize where noise and the SST stand with respect to technology. This report is based on information developed and made available prior to Fall 1978.

Legal and Institutional Analysis of Aircraft and Airport Noise and Apportionment of Authority Between Federal, State, and Local Governments
July 1973
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Foreign Noise Research in Aviation
December 1977
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This is one of three reports which summarize foreign noise abatement research efforts, based on an appraisal carried out by Information Inc. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Noise Abatement and Control, as part of their noise research coordination efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reconstituted interagency noise research panels covering three areas: aviation, surface transportation, and machinery and construction equipment. The purpose fo the panels is to assemble a total picture of U.S. Fedrally-sponsored noise abatement research recently completed, in progress, or planned, and provide recommendations for additional research which should be performed to meet the goals embodied in the national noise abatement strategy. The three panel reports are scheduled for release in early 1978. The three reports on research abroad are to supplement the information provided in the panel reports by providing a broad overview of the international research effort underway in noise abatement and control.

Conference on General Aviation Airport Noise and Land Use Planning Vol. II - Prepared Papers
Edited by Clifford R. Bragdon
February 1980
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This report constitutes the proceedings of the three day conference on general aviation airport noise and land use planning. Included are advance copies of the speakers' presentations that were available at the conference, a summary of each of the five panels, a noise bibliography, and a transcription of all discussions including audience participation. The conference was unique in the sense that a diverse group of indiviuals were invited to attend representing the wide range of constituents of general aviation. They were encouraged to participate by expressing their interests and views and to interact with each other. Because of the novel aspects of the conference and the fact that there is no comparable information available elsewhere, it was determined to reproduce all discussions as accurately as possible. It is anticipated that other conferences of this nature will be held and that this report will provide valuable background and reference information.

Evaluation and Abatement of Noise from Aircraft Auxiliary Power Units and Airport Ground Power Units
Michael A. Staiano; Robert A. Samis; Steven Toth
October 1980
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APUs and GPUs provide essential service to aircraft during ground operations. Sound levels near these devices range from 80 to 87 dBA at 30 m for APUs, 83 to 103 dBA at 10 m for turbine-engined GPUs, and 71 to 80 dBA at 10 m for piston-engined GPUs. Procedures are provided for: (1) estimating community sound levels due to APUs and GPUs, (2) estimating their exposures in terms of day-night sound levels, and (3) assessing the desirability of noise abatement by comparison to recommended levels for acceptability. Noise abatement options include: operational changes, equipment movement, equipment substitution, equipment quieting, and sound barrier usage.

Conference on General Aviation Airport Noise and Land Use Planning Vol. I - Proceedings
Edited by Clifford R. Bragdon
February 1980
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Synthesis of Social Surveys on Noise Annoyance
Theodore J. Schultz
March 1978
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Since noise was first recognized as a serious environmental pollutant, a number of social surveys have been conducted in order to assess the magnitude of the problem and to develop suitable noise ratings, such that, from a measurement of certain physical characteristics of community noise, one could reliably predict the community's subjective response to the noise. Recently, the author has reviewed the data from social surveys concerning the noise of aircraft, street traffic, expressway traffic, and railroads. Going back to the original published data, the various survey noise ratings were translated to day-night average sound level, and an independent judgment was made, where choices were possible, as in which respondents should be counted as "higly annoyed". The results of 11 of these surveys show a remarkable consistency. It is proposed that the average of these curves is the best currently available relationship for predicting community annoyance due to transportation noise of all kinds.

United States General Accounting Office - Testimony - Aviation Noise: A National Policy is Needed
Kenneth M. Mead
September 1990
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University of Southampton - Institute of Sound and Vibration Research - Whole-Body Vibration and Aircrew Performance
M.J. Griffin; R.W. McLeod; M.J. Moseley; C.E. Lewis
January 1986
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A programme of experimental research concerned with the effects of aircraft vibration on vision and manual control performance has been completed. Twenty-eight experiments were conducted, 16 investigating effects on vision and 12 investigating effects on manual control performance. Short summaries of the objectives, methods and findings of all 28 experiments are presented. References to publications providing full reports of each experiment are also provided.

Advisory Circular - Estimated Airplane Noise Levels in A-Weighted Decibels
August 1990
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This circular provides listings of estimated airplane noise levels in units of A-weighted sound level in decibels (dBA), ranked in descending order for the conditions and assumptions described below. This information is provided both for aircraft that have been noise type certificated under Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 36 and for aircraft for which no such requirement currently exists.

Molecular Relaxation Effects on Sonic Boom Waveforms: A Tutorial Survey
Allan D. Pierce
November 1992
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Handbook for the Review of Airport Environmental Impact Statements
Kenneth E. Nelson; Sarah J. LaBelle
July 1975
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The principal objective of this report is to supply airport planners and reviewing agencies with guidelines for the technical review of airport environmental impact statements. The guidelines contain both procedural and technical guidance for the comprehensive review of air, noise, water and wastewater, solid waste, land use, hazardous materials, and ecological impacts. The report includes discussion of the evaluation of environmental impact statements and the airport development process. A classification system was developed to rank projects according to their impacts. The major thrust of the report deals with assessment techniques for airport-generated pollutants. This includes a discussion of standards and procedural guidelines, the identification of sources, and evaluation of state-of-the-art assessment techniques, and description of abatement strategies. Finally, the assessment for the overall airport project used by the EPA, along with an explanation of viable alternatives to an airport project, is presented.

Sound Exposure Levels (SEL) Chart for Civil Jet Transport Aircraft Takeoffs Using ATA Procedures (Adopted December 1976)
D.E. Bishop; H. Siedman; D.Q. Walker
January 1978
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EPA 550/9-77-450, presented a method for the manual calculation of day-night average sound levels (Ldn) due to aircraft operations. Information was presented for different aircraft and different operational procedures. Addendum I presents the additional information needed to predict the noise levels produced by aircraft which utilize the Air Transport Association (ATA) procedures which were adopted December 1976.

Annoyance, Loudness, and Measurement of Repetitive Type Impulsive Noise Sources
L.C. Sutherland; R.E. Burke
November 1979
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This study was undertaken to evaluate subjective and objective aspects of moderate levels of noise from impulsive sources. The study excluded evaluation of hearing damage risk or annoyance from building vibration by high level impulsive noise, which were covered by recent recommendations of the National Research Council, Committee on Hearing Bioacoustics and Bomechanics, Working Group 69. While the study included original investigations into some of the objective aspects of impulsive noise, a detailed review of the literature on the subjective aspects was emphasized. Based on this available literature, the annoyance and loudness from a wide variety of repetitive impulse noises were evaluated. These results were applied to the evaluation of impulsive noise from a number of specific noise sources. Based on the most pertinent literature, it is tentatively concluded that a subjective impulse correction factor of +7 dB applied to the A-weighted equivalent sound levels of these types of repetitive impulsive noise sources would better define their effective level in terms of annoyance reactions. No additional correction is identified at this time for crest level or repetition rate. Research on subjective correction factors for helicopter blade slap is also reviewed and potential reasons for the smaller subjective correction factors (i.e. 0 to 6 dB) for annoyance response to this type of sound are discussed. It is recommended that refinements to this subjective correction factor be based on the use of standard loudness calculation methods (Stevens Mark VII or Zwicker) modified to include provision for a shorter time constant to reflect subjective response to short duration impulsive sounds. The study also included a brief experimental evaluation of the measurement of a wide variety of simulated repetitive impulsive-type signals varying in duty cycle, repetition rate, pulse frequency, and ratio of peak impulse signal level to continuous background noise level. When repetitive impulses are measured using maximum values of A-weighted (slow) readings on an Impulse Sound Level Meter, no objective correction is necessary in order to measure, with an accuracy of +/- 1.5 dB, the equivalent level (Leq) of the wide variety of impulsive signals investigated.

Development of Binaural Time-Delay Apparatus for Improving Intelligibility of Speech
Donald C. Gasaway
December 1971
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A variety of electroacoustic instruments and devices have evolved in attempts to improve the perception and discrimination of aural signals and messages. This report describes instrumentation that delivers binaurally time-delayed signals that tend to enhance the intelligibility of speech signals delivered to subjects. The electroacoustic device reported in this paper can be used to improve the intelligibility of desired signals when immersed in masking (interfering) noise. The device used to achieve binaural time delays encompasses completely variable delays ranging from 0 (in-phase) to 1500 msec. This device has proved of considerable value in situations where desired speech signals coexist with masking or other interfering noises, such as voice recordings obtained within cockpits or aircraft. Details of the device and practical applications of the binaural time-delay phenomenon are discussed.

Airport Noise: Land-Use Compatibility by the Year 2000
Robert J. Koenig; John Tyler
August 1982
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This report reviews the progress which has been made in airport noise control and presents a forecast of changes in aviation noise exposure that will occur during the balance of this century. Results are given of an analysis which examines the benefits of noise abatement flight operations, flight procedures and of restrictions on population encroachment, on residential noise exposure. Cost of residential soundproofing and relocation, based upon in-depth studies, are presented for four air carrier airports which represent four airport categories. While the main focus of the report is on noise exposure above Ldn 65 at air carrier airports, noise exposure around general aviation and joint-use civil/military airports is also discussed.

Noise Impact Evaluation Manual - Task 1
August 1985
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EPA is required to review EISs involving major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 309 of the Clean Air Act. Noise impact is one of the parameters that EPA reviews in the EIS review process. The purpose of this work assignment is to prepare a comprehensive noise impact evaluation guidance manual for the EPA EIS reviewers to promote more consistent and effective response to noise impact in EISs. This report is the product of Task 1. In Task 1, SAIC reviewed over 75 documents dealing with EPA, FHWA, FAA and HUD's noise programs. We interviewed representatives from FHWA and FAA. The result is a summary of each agency's noise policy, noise impact criteria, and mitigation measures. Exhibit D of this report also lists States and local communities that have adopted noise criteria and/or regulations. The primary emphasis of the report is on transportation-related agencies since the majority of EISs with noise impacts are primarily highway and airport projects. Evaluating the noise impacts of the overall project are discussed in more detail than the specific noise standards for a particular aircraft or vehicle. Other products of the work assignment will be a detailed guidance document and bibliography of key references.

Airport Community Soundproofing and Relocation Study
Richard Chais; John Kirkland
July 1982
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For many airports, a residual population imported by aircraft noise will remain after benefits from all other noise control means have been realized. This report considers residential soundproofing and relocation programs as a means of achieving airport noise/land use compatibility. A detailed discussion of issues involved in such a program is given. To quantify the cost of such a program a methodology is developed and used to integrate parameters affecting noise exposure. A forecast is presented of changes in air carrier airport noise exposure that will occur during the balance of this century. The study also examines the noise exposure benefit of noise abatement flight operations, flight procedure, and restrictions on population encroachment. Soundproofing and relocation costs are developed for four airports.

User's Manual for Automated Calculation of Fleet Noise Level and Airport Noise Index
William Benson
April 1981
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This manual provides instructions to the users of a series of programs that calculate fleet noise level (FNL) and airport noise index (ANI). The concept of FNL provides a method for evaluating the noise status of fleets of aircraft. Using FNL, comparisons can be developed between fleets for all airports of subsets of airports. It is an average of acoustical energies. The ANI is a measure that is sensitive to total acoustical energy.

Users Manual for the ALAMO (DEMCOM) Demographic Report Generator Program
Larry A. Ronk; Richard I. Chais
September 1981
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This report presents a discussion of the user requirements and procedures for executing the Demographic Report Generator Program. DEMCOM, a computer program written in FORTRAN IV programming language, uses as input the Aircraft Noise Levels and Annoyance Model (ALAMO) demographic profile reports which are generated for each octant of specified day-night sound level (Ldn) contour band and computes the same variables for the all-octant case. The program also projects selected demographic variables to future years based on historical growth rates for population, households, and per capita income.

Conference on General Aviation Airport Noise and Land Use Planning Vol. III - Proceedings
Edited by Clifford R. Bragdon
February 1980
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Draft Report on Legal and Institutional Analysis of Aircraft and Airport Noise and Apportionment of Authority Between Federal, State, and Local Governments for Environmental Protection gency Aircraft/Airport Noise Report Study - Task Group 1, Appendix B
June 1973
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Aircraft Noise Effects on Cultural Resources: Review of Technical Literature
Carl E. Hanson; Kenneth W. King; Mary Ellen Eagan; Richard D. Horonjeff
September 1991
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This report presents a review of the existing scientific literature concerning aircraft noise-induced damage to structures, with a focus on historical structures and cultural resources. Both short term and long term effects have been observed and recorded in attempts to quantify the relationship between cause and effect and to establish criteria. Prediction models developed from these studies enable the estimation of probabilities of damage from aircraft operations and the specification of mitigation measures. In this report, every effort is made to preserve the results and opinions of the referenced authors. Summaries of the best available methods for the evaluation of damage to historical and cultural resources are provided. an annotated bibliography of referenced sources follows in a separate document.

The Balance Sheet Technique: Volume II: Preconstruction Review of Airports: Review of State Regulations, Projects Affected and Resource Requirements
Sarah J. LaBelle; Dorathea A. Seymour; Albert E. Smith; Michael Harbour
February 1977
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This volume of the report contains the results of several surveys and analyses to ascerrtain the effect of airport indirect source review (ISR) requirements. This material is all dated, in the sense that the survey of state activities and the forecast of proposed construction are accurate as of the date the survey was completed. The material does shec light on the magnitude of the problems posed by indirect source review of airports. In conjunction with the test case results presented in Volume I of this report, a fairly clear picture of the effect of such regulation emerges. The regulation would in fact cause review of 30-50 major airport projects that may not be reviewed under any other program. The airports are significant regional sources of hydrocarbon emissions, and become more so over the ten year planning horizon.

Report to Congress - Study - The Feasibility, Practicability and Cost of the Soundproofing of Schools, Hospitals, and Public Health Facilities Located Near Airports
July 1977
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Informations Brief - Possible Consequences of Fuel Allocation Program on Aircraft Noise
H.J. Nozick
January 1974
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Several cursory studies over the past three months have given some preliminary indication that the energy problem, as it relates in particular to the consequences of decisions resulting from the airline fuel allocation program, could result in further degradation of the environment in communities adjacent to airports due to increases in aircraf noise. The purpose of this brief is to consolidate all of the preliminary data and provide a base reference for future consideration relative to fuel conservation and noise tradeoffs.

Environmental Planning Paper - Airport Environs: Land Use Controls
May 1970
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EPA/ONAC Comments on the proposed Airport and Airway Imrpovement Act of 1979
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The EPA Office of Noise Abatement and Control offered objections and comments to certain sections of the proposed Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1979 and the Legislative Environmental Impact Statement, March 1979 Draft. No significant changes of the LEIS are presented in the "April Edition" that would alter the form or content of this offices comments.

The Balance Sheet Technique - Volume I: The Balance Sheet Analysis Technique for Preconstruction Review of Airports and Highways
Sarah J. LaBelle; Albert E. Smith; Dorathea A. Seymour
February 1977
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Project Report - Aircraft Noise Certification Rule for Supersonic Civil Aircraft
January 1975
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This report presents the supporting data for a proposed noise certification rule for supersonic civil aircraft. The background information presented shows that supersonic transports are inherently noisier than subsonic jet transports, although the two current supersonic airplanes (Concorde and TU-144) targeted for airline service in the near future are not significantly noisier under the flight path than the four-engine narrow-bodied commercial jet transports now in world-wide operation. However, the supersonic aircraft noise is characterizsed by greater low-frequency content than the subsonic aircraft, which propogates within the audible frequency range to greater distances, and which causes greater vibration response of structures subjected to it....

Sound Exposure Levels (SEL) Chart for Civil Jet Transport Aircraft Takeoffs Using ATA Procedures (Adopted December 1976)
D.E. Bishop; H. Siedman; D.Q. Walker
January 1978
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EPA 550/9-77-450, presented a method for the manual calculation of day-night average sound levels (Ldn) due to aircraft operations. Information was presented for different aircraft and different operational procedures. Addendum I presents the additional information needed to predict the Noise levels produced by aircraft which utilize the Air Transport Association (ATA) procedures which were adopted December 1976.

Acoustic Alteration of Speech Processed Through Air Craft Communications Systems
Donald C. Gasaway
November 1974
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Speech picked up at the speaker's lips and processed through standard Air Force electroacoustic-communication systems undergoes acoustic alteration that affects intelligibility. Features of such acoustic alteration and its importance to Air Force opertions are presented.

Method for Assessing A-Weighted Auditory Risk Limits for Protected Ears
Donald C. Gasaway; Harrell C. Sutherland
January 1971
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Recent noise exposure studies employ A-weighted measures as the basis for estimating varying degrees of potetial auditory risk. Since most auditory risk criteria are based on unprotected exposures, aerospace applications require adapting the criteria to attenuated conditions. This report provides specific guidance for evaluating conditions of noise exposure when personal ear protection is worn (headsets or earplugs). Generalized spectra are presented for noise measured within cockpits of 249 aircraft divided into eleven groups, each representing a different airframe-to-powerplant mating. A-weighted levels for attenuation and nonattenuated noise are shown for each of the eleven groups of aircraft included in this study. Relationships between C- and A- weighted values for different spectra (octave bands) are described, and the use of C-A as a correction factor is evaluated. Generally, small values of C-A yield greater amounts of attenuation (A-weighted, attenuated) than larger values of C-A. The results of this study can be used to predict differing degrees of A-weighted attenuation provided by either headsets or earplugs when C-A is known.

Six Indices for Predicting Speech Interference Within Aircraft
Donald C. Gasaway
December 1970
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Acoustic noise within aircraft during flight often causes some degree of interference with aural communication. Several methods have been used ove the years to identify and predict degrees of speech interference. Six of these methods are discussed: four involve octave-band averaging; two use frequency weighting. The assessment is based on application of each of the six indices to noise levels measured within the cockpits of 191 fixed-wing and 58 rotary-wing aircraft, grouped into 11 categories by engine type. Equivalent speech interference levels obtained from the use of each of the six indices are provided for the acoustic spectra developed for the 11 classes of vehicles. The operational considerations which influence speech interference values are described. Noise attenuation provided by headset devices commonly used by Air Force aircrew members is shown for different groups of noise spectra. Criteria are given for evaluating protected and unprotected exposures to noise that compromise communications.

Federal Noise Research - EPA Summary and Assessment
June 1978
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Federal Research, Technology and Demonstration Programs
March 1978
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This report is a compilation of the research, technology, and demonstration (RT&D) activities of Federal agencies and departments in the area of aviation noise during the period FY 75-77, and planned activities for FY 78. This report also contains assessments of these activities as well as recommendations for future areas of work.

Aircraft Flight Procedures Program: Modified Computer Program Model - User's Manual
Larry A. Ronk
December 1981
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This manual describes an aircraft flight procedure model used to construct aircraft flight paths and performance schedules for specified operational procedures. The computer model algorithms were derived from fundamental aircraft and engine performance relationships or from operational characteristics applicable to specific aircraft types. The flight path and performance schedule data generated by the model are compatible with the input data requirements of the FAA's INM and the USAF;s NOISEMAP. The flight procedures model was developed and installed on the EPA's IBM 370/168MP computer system. The program was written in FORTRAN IV language and executed interactively under TSO.

Noise Source Abatement Technology and Cost Analysis Including Retrofitting
July 1973
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This report reviews the technological developments that have contributed to the historical growth of the civil aviation industry and looks to the present and future technology to nurture its continued growth. Future expansion of air transportation is now dependent upon resolving the problem created by its Achille's heel - aircraft generated noise. One of the principal avenuse available for reducing noise impacted areas resulting from aircraft operations is by treating the source of the noise - the aircraft and its contributing components.

Estimate of the Impact of Noise from Jet Aircraft Air Carrier Operations
Kenneth M. Eldred
September 1980
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This report contains an update and revision of the estimated noise impact of airport jet air carrier operations in the years 1975 and 2000. These estimates are based on the current takeoff flight procedures; the 1979 FAA fleet forecast, and current definitions of new technology aircraft. They do not assume additional regulatory actions, either in aircraft noise certification or in airport operations, nor do they assume additional noise control efforts on the part of individual airports. These results are based largely on the methodology and data contained in a prior study [1], except for updating certain basic information in that study from 1975 to 1979 and revising a part of the methodology for estimating population impacted. The sensitivity of the results with respect to changes in these four factors has been investigated with a simplified noise characteristics vs. area impact model. The model directly relates the noise characteristic, Ldn, calculated at a 1000-ft slant distance, for each of the four busy runway average airport fleets to the area contained within each Ldn contour, as calculated in Ref. 1. The model was calibrated for current standard takeoff procedures using three cases from the Ref. 1 study which covered the range of results from maximum to minimum impact. The model enables evaluation of the variation of both noise and operations parameters, but not takeoff flight procedures, over a much wider range of alternatives than those considered in this report.

Aircraft Noise - Tafeoff Flight Procedures and Future Goals
Kenneth M. Eldred
November 1980
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The study was designed to develop and analyze an aircraft takeoff noise data base consisting of areas and populations, computed as a function of noise level, aircraft type, weight and takeoff flight procedure. Six aircraft, each at typical and maximum weight, were chosen to represent the range of civil transport aircraft and engine types. Six types of takeoff flight procedures were selected, three involving cleanup of flaps and leading edge and leading edge devices before thrust cutback, and three involving thrust cutback before or during cleanup. Each of these procedures was initiated at 3 altitudes: 122, 305, and 610 meters, so that for each combination of aircraft and weight a total of 18 takeoff procedures were considered, for a total of 216 cases. The data base developed in this report enable an approximate direct translation of results between various operational procedures and the certification test procedures. This translation methodology is developed through examples of the selection of trial goals and the development of their implications in terms of certification noise limits. The relative effectiveness of the various procedures was found to be highly dependent on two performance characteristics, takeoff climbout and noise reduction resulting from thrust cutback. For aircraft with high and intermediate climbout performance and with a high value of noise reduction with throust cutback, the procedures having least potential noise impact involved maximum cutback, and, if cleanup were initiated prior to cutback, showed that it should be initiated at the lowest safe altitude.

Report on Operations Analysis Including Monitoring, Enforcement, Safety and Costs
July 1973
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This report analyzes a number of noise abatement flight and operational procedures which are presently in use in one form or another in scattered parts of the air transportation system. For the most part the use of these procedures is not required by the FAA. The discussion in this report concentrates on the noise reduction potential, the costs, and other advantages and disadvantages of these noise abatement procedures. The attractiveness of procedural methods of noise reduction is that they can be accomplished in a short time (0 to 5 years) and at a low costs (often no cost). This is in contrast to aircraft or engine modifications or land use conversion which can provide more substantial long term benefits (3 to 15 years) but at greater cost.

A Study of Airports - Design, Art & Architecture
June 1905
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This document has been prepared as part of the FAA's program to encourage improved design, art, and architecture in aviation facilities.

Environmental Assessment of Airport Development Actions
January 1977
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The purpose of this document is to provide specific step-by-step guidance on the preparation of environmental impact assessment reports and statements for airport projects in accordance with DOT/FAA, EPA, CEQ, and other regulatory and reviewing agency requirements. It is intended that this document provide instructional material which will extend beyond present guidelines which state what impacts to consider; the guidance book is designed to explain how each potential impact should be approached, analyzed, referenced, and presented. Included in this text are instructions on how to collect and analyze environmental impact data so as to provide clear, responsive documentation in conformance with specifc Federal, state and local laws and regulations. This book covers all steps of the study and review process including assessment methodologies and report preparation, public hearing presentation, responses to comments raised by reviewing agencies and the general public, and final statement preparation....

Aviation Forecasts - Fiscal Years 1976-1987
September 1975
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This report contains the latest Federal Aviation Administration forecast of measures of workload and activity at towered airports, air route traffic control centers, and flight service stations for Fiscal Years 1976 to 1987. The forecasts were made for the four major users of the system; air carriers, air taxi, general aviation and the military. The report has been prepared to meet the budget and planning needs of the various offices and services of FAA for data concerning future trends in aviation activity. This report reflects the impact on aviation activity of a more rapid rate of price increase, especially for fuel, and a slower rate of real income growth than had been assumed in previous forecasts. Although this year's forecasts are lower than previous year's, aviation activity is forecast to increase by 41 percent at towered airports, 23 percent at air route traffic control centers and 54 percent in flight services performed by fiscal year 1980. Of the users of the system, general aviation and air taxi will have the greatest percentage growth during the forecast years although in absolute terms the air taxi impact is relatively small. The air carriers will have a lower growth rate while military activity is expected to remain at its current levels throughout the forecast period. In absolute terms, general aviation will continue to increase its portion of all aviation activities so that by 1980general aviation will account for 79 percent of total operations at towered airports, 27 percent of workload at air route traffic control centers and continue to increase its domination of flight services performed by the FAA.

Airport Access: Staff Working Paper
May 1981
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This paper was prepared by the staff of the Civil Aeronautics Board. It is a preliminary rather than a final statement discussing the issues and potential problems concerning airport access. It is intended to initiate a dialogue among members and representatives of the airline industry and concerned local, state and federal officials. The preliminary views expressed are those of the staff and have not been approved by the Board.

Helicopter Noise Characteristics for Heliport Planning - Technical Report
Dwight E. Bishop
March 1965
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Noise data and simplified procedures are presented for estimating the percieved noise levels produced by current civil and military helicopters (piston- and turbine-powered) during takeoff, landing, flyover and hover operations. Noise data and procedures are also presented for comparing helicopter noise with other vehicle noise and with ambient noise found in typical urban and suburban areas. The procedures permit an assessment of the compatibility of helicopter noise with typical land uses near heliports. Generalized helicopter noise data are presented in the form of noise contours and in perceived noise level distance charts for different helicopter categories. The generalized noise charts are based upon measurements of a number of military and civil aircraft. Analysis of these measurements, discussed in Appendix A, shows that: a) for most helicopters the spread in perceived noise levels for takeoff, landing, flyover and hover operations is of the order of 5 dB or less, a spread in noise levels much less than encountered for fixed-wing aircraft. b) piston-powered helicopters are noisier than turbine-powered helicopters of comparable size. No consistent difference in noise levels between single and dual rotor helicopters was noted. c) perceived noise levels for turbine-powered helicopters show greater changes with size of aircraft than do noise levels for piston-powered helicopters. d) for planning purposes, noise radiation from helicopters can be assumed to be non-directional in both vertical and horizontal planes.

User Taxes and Allocations of United States Airport and Airway System Costs
Paul F. Dienemann; Armando M. Lago
January 1976
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The United States government supports a vast network of air traffic control and safety for aviation users throughout the country and across the Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans. This Airport and Airway System is operated not only through the Federal Aviation Administration, but also through a number of other federal agencies. In the late 1960s the rapid growth in air traffic was straining the capacity of the Airport and Airway System and causing serious delays and airspace congestion. To help remedy this, the U.S. Congress passed the Airport and Airway Development and Revenue Act of 1970, authorising a long-range programme for expanding and improving the nation's airports and airways. The Act directed the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to undertake a cost allocation study with the following objectives: 1. To determine the costs of the federal Airport and Airways System. 2. Too determine how these costs should be allocated among the various users, i.e., air carrier, general aviation, and military aviation. 3. To recommend equitable ways for recovering these costs. In the fall of 1970 DOT launched the cost allocation study, which was undertaken by DOT personnel and supported by contract research personnel. This paper, based partly on work carried out by the authors for the Department of Transportation, summarises the results of this inquiry and describes the separable costs/remaining benefits method for allocating costs to air carrier, general aviation, and military users. The paper also provides a direct comparison of the allocated costs and user revenues from existing airport and airway charges. Large shortfalls in tax recovery are revealed, particularly in the general aviation sector, and the need for changes in the tax structure becomes apparent from the study results.

Guide to the Soundproofing of Existing Homes Against Exterior Noise
October 1977
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This manual was prepared for the city of Los Angeles Department of Airports and is reprinted and distributed with their permission. This manual should be of help to the designer in selecting and conceptualizing various methods of soundproofing existing homes. The manual would be useful with the previously distributed TechShare Report No. TS-77-202, "Insulation of Buildings Against Highway Noise," and the current distribution of TechShare Report No. FHWA TS-77-220 titled "Background Report on Outdoor Indoor Noise Reduction Calculation Procedures Employing the Exterior Wall Noise Rating (EWNR) Method." This guide presents the various successful methods used in a 1970 pilot project to increase the noise reduction capabilities of existing houses for the Los Angeles Department of Airports. Three categories of modification from minor to extensive are covered. The guide also provides a basic understanding of the elements of noise control and the systematic method of soundproofing houses. This guide expands the repertory of methods and techniques of reducing the impact of highway traffic noise on its neighbors.

Project Report - Noise Standrards for Civil Subsonic Turbojet Engine-Powered Airplanes (Retrofit/Fleet Noise Level)
November 1974
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The FAA has been concerned with the noise levels of turbojet (axial flow jet and axial flow fan) powered airplanes that do not comply with FAR 36 since its rpomulgation in 1969. Two ANPRMs and one NPRM related to retrofitting operational airplanes to meet the noise levels specified in FAR 36 have been published for public comment. This report examines these three proposed actions in detail and recommends two regulations based upon their best features.

Foreign Noise Research in Machinery and Construction Equipment
December 1977
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The Urban Noise Survey
Sanford Fidell
August 1977
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Most of the existing social survey data base on community annoyance has been in character and has been concerned primarily with airport and highway related noise. An essential element in assessing the impact of noise in urban areas away from airports and highways is the evaluation of the attitudes of people concerning the noise in the residential environment. A social survey was conducted to sample opinion over the entire range of noise exposure and population density characteristics of non-rural America.The objective of the Urban Noise Survey was to develop a first order relationship between noise exposure and human response as a function of situational and attitudinal variables associated with the life styles of people in various urban environments. This survey differed from prior surveys in the general area of noise pollution in several important aspects: (1) it was specifically designed to study noise exposure not directly related to airport and highway sources; (2) the social survey was made in conjunction with simultaneous physical measurements of noise exposure at sites with widely different noise environments; (3) it was national rather than local in character and was addressed to a broad rather than narrow range of noise exposures and respondents' life styles. Some of the major conclusions are that: (a) exposure to noise typical of many urban (non-aircraft and non-highway) environments produces widespread annoyance, speech interference, and sleep disturbance; (b) a strong relationship was demonstrated between exposure level and the proportion of a community highly annoyed by noise; (c) the prevalence of speech interference is an especially good predictor of annoyance; (d) the number of complaints about noise is a poor predictor of the prevalence of annoyance; (e) demographic factors alone are relatively poor predictors of noise annoyance; (f) freedom from noise exposure is a component of a neighborhood satisfaction, and quiet is highly valued; (g) noises associated with automotive sources are the most pervasive sources of annoying noise in urban areas; (h) annoyance associated with intrusive noise sources may be related to measurable noise exposure from such sources, even when their magnitudes are not as great as the level of overall exposure in a community; (i) there is some evidence that human response to noise exposure at Ldn values in excess of 70 dB is more acute than at lower levels.

Speech Levels in Various Noise Environments
Karl S. Pearsons; Ricarda L. Bennett; Sanford Fidell
May 1977
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Research on speech level measurements was conducted under laboratory and non-laboratory conditions. The goal of this study was to determine average speech levels used by people when conversing in different levels of background noise. The non-laboratory or real-life environments where speech was recorded were: high school classrooms, homes, hospitals, department stores, trains and commercial aircraft. Briefly, the results of speech measurements at schools confirmed that teachers in typical classroom situations speak at a consistently higher level (67-78 dB at one meter) than in face-to-face conversation. Further, their vocal effort increased at the rate of 1 dB/dB increase in background noise which ranged from 45 to 55 dB. The speech levels recorded in face-to-face conversation were lower, averaging 55 dB at 1 meter for ambient levels less than 48 dB. But, as the background level increased above 48 dB to 70 dB, people correspondingly raised their voice levels up to 67 dB at the rate of 0.6 dB/dB as the ambient increased. It was also noted that for background levels less than 45 dB. speech levels measured at the listener's ear - disregarding distance between talkers - was also 55 dB. The laboratory portion of the study was conducted in an anechoic chamber. The analysis of approximately 100 observers for four varied speech instructions ("Speak in a normal, raised, loud, and shout voice") showed an orderly progression in level, and shift in spectral emphasis as voice levels increased. A comparison of male and female voice levels for the speech categories normal and raised yielded minimal differences, thus negating conclusions by other researchers that background levels should be lowered to accomodate female speech. This report concludes with recommended background levels to achieve speech intelligibility for the various environments investigated in this study.

Technique for Developing Noise Exposure Forecasts - Technical Report
August 1967
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A methodology called Noise Exposure Forecasts (NEF) is developed for describing aircraft noise exposure in the vicinity of the takeoff and approach flight paths of an airport. In support of this methodology an improved measure of the subjective response to aircraft flyover noise called Effective Perceived Noise Level (EPNL) has been derived. This measure includes corrections for pure tone components and duration. Other elements necessary for the calculation of NEF are number of exposures and time of day, nef contours are translated into guidelines for compatible land use.

Noise Standards for Aircraft Type Certification (Modifications to Far Part 36)
William C. Sperry; Damon C. Gray
August 1976
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This document presents and discusses the background data used by the Agency in the development of proposed noise control regulations for promulgation by the FAA in conformance with the Noise Control Act of 1972. The proposed regulations pertain to control of airplane noise at the source and would amend the existing Federal Aviation Regulations PART 36 (FAR 36). FAR 36 was the first type certification regulation for aircraft noise prescribed by any nation. It is a comprehensive rule containing highly technical appendices whose purposes are to require the maximum feasible use of noise control technology, to set standards for the acquisition of noise levels, and to obtain data useful for predicting the noise impact in airport neighborhood communities. Since the promulgation of FAR 36 in 1969, noise control technology has advanced substantially, the significance of community noise impact is much better understood, and the techniques and equipment for data acquisition and reduction have improved considerably. It is appropriate, therefore, to consider amendments to FAR 36 with the objective of strengthening and extending the original purposes, and , in particular, to eliminate any ambiguities that may exist.

The Effects of Sonic Boom and Similar Impulsive Noise on Structures
December 1971
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A Brief discussion is given of the physical nature of sonic booms, and other impulsive noises, and the parameters, such as over-pressure, duration, and mechanical impulse, which are used to characterize booms. This is followed by an overview of the response of structures - particularly buildings - to sonic booms and a review of the damage history observed due to supersonic overflights. The report concludes with a summary of the observed effects of impulsive noise on terrain and natural structures.

Aircraft Noise Effects on Cultural Resources: Annotated Bibliography
Carl E. Hanson; Nancy Peterson
May 1993
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This report is the third of three products prepared under Work Order No. 4, Contract No. CX-2000-0-0025, dated July 16, 1990. The scope of work required a review, critique and analysis of the scientific literature to assess the nature and probable magnitude of the potential effects of aircraft overflights on historical and cultural resources in the National Park System. Excluded under this work order are such items as historical or cultural context or setting.

Aircraft Noise Effects on Cultural Resources: Recommendation and Rationale for Further Research
Carl E. Hanson; Kenneth W. King; Mary Ellen Eagan; Richard D. Horonjeff
May 1993
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This report is the second prepared by Harris Miller Miller & Hanson Inc. (HMMH) under Work Order #4. Its purpose is to identify the need for further research in specific areas necessary to assess the effects of aircraft overflights on historical and cultural resources and to develop mitigation measures for the most important adverse effects. The first report is a literature survey on aircraft noise-induced vibrations of structures. The most significant finding from the first report is the potential damage risk from helicopter noise, especially from helicopters hovering at the same level as a prehistoric cliff dwelling. In order to determine probability of damage to sensitive structures, a measurement program is proposed for selected buildings at Mesa Verde. Results of the measurements should be useful to define a set of procedures for helicopters to avoid damage to prehistoric structures.

Calculation of Day-Night Levels (Ldn) Resulting From Civil Aircraft Operations
January 1977
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A method is described for calculating values of Day/Night Levels (Ldn) at a point due to aircraft from civil airports. Two levels of sophistication are detailed - at the basic level, such factors as type of takeoff and landing procedures are considered, but aircraft range and non-standard approach glide slopes are excluded; the detailed method takes account of the latter parameters. The procedure is to determine distances between the point in question on the ground and the aircraft flight tracks and runway. A series of charts provided in the report give Ldn values for different types of aircraft in terms of these distance parameters. An adjustment is made to the noise levels for each class of aircraft to take account of the number of operations, and these adjustment levels are then added logarithmically to produce an overall noise level. This method is not suitable for generating noise contours (lines of equal Ldn value) although a method is described for estimating area and size of any given contour.

Draft Report on Review and Analysis of Present and Planned FAA Noise Regulatory Actions and Their Consequences Regarding Aircraft and Airport Operations for Environmental Protection gency Aircraft/Airport Noise Report Study
June 1973
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Aircraft Overflight Study - Effect of Aircraft Altitude Upon Sound Levels at the Ground
Grant S. Anderson; Richard D. Horonjeff
March 1992
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Section 1(a) of Public Law 100-91 requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to "conduct a study to determine the proper minimum altitude which should be maintained by aircraft when flying over units of the National Park System." As part of that study, the technical acoustical literature was reviewed to determine the effects of altitude on aircraft sound levels on the ground. This report summarizes that literature review. And based upon that literature review, this report discusses the potential acoustical effectiveness of using altitude as a mitigation measure for any adverse effects of aircraft sound within the National park System...

The National Aviation System Challenges of the Decade Ahead - 1977-1986
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In this document are summarized the Federal Aviation Administration's plans for the development of the National Aviation System (NAS) over the next ten years. It has been prepared for two purposes: -To advise the aviation community of FAA's current activities, and -To provide a basis for dialogue between the FAA and industry regarding the future of the NAS.

Short Term Effects of Aircraft Overflights on Outdoor Recreationists in Three Wildernesses
Sanford Fidell; Laura Silvati; Barbara Tabachnick; Richard Howe; Karl S. Pearsons; Richard C. Knopf; James Gramann; Thomas Buchanan
April 1992
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This report describes an on-site social survey of te short term effects of aircraft overflights on visitors to three Forest Service wildernesses. Two prior reports (Fidell, Tabachnick, and Silvati, 1990a and 1990b) contain the detailed rationale for this study. A companion report (Tabachnick, Fidell, Silvati, Knopf, Gramann, and Buchanan, 1991) describes a related telephone interview study. These studies were undertaken principally to support preparation of a Forest Service report to Congress mandated by Section 5(a) of Public Law 100-91. Three Forest Service wildernesses were purposively selected for study on the basis of two primary and five secondary criteria. The major criteria were levels of visitor use and aircraft overflight exposure. Wildernesses were also selected to provide a range of ambient sound levels, ecotypes, visitor activities, day and overnight use, and exposure to helicopters as well as fixed wing aircraft. Interviewing was conducted during peak visitor seasons at three wildernesses (Golden Trout in California, Cohutta in Georgia, and Superstition in Arizona). Attempts were made to exhaustively interview visitors during the data collection periods in each wilderness. Personal interviews of visitors and extensive acoustic measurements were conducted simultaneously. Visitors were interviewed individually and in groups by means of a short, verbally administered questionnaire. A total of 920 interviews was completed: 185 in Golden Trout, 343 in Cohutta and 392 in Superstition Wildernesses. The lowest completion rate was 96%. No reliable differences were observed between visitors who granted interviews and those who did not. Respondents in the three wildernesses were similar in gender distribution, degree of overall enjoyment of their visits, and intention to return to the wilderness. Respondents interviewed in different wildernesses differed with respect to all other variables investigated, including age distribution, size of group, number of previous visits, activities, aspects of their visits they liked most and least, type of aircraft noticed, annoyance due to the sight and sound of aircraft, and type of aircraft found most annoying to hear. Despite difficulties in estimating recreationists' personal noise exposure, it was possible to construct a relationship between estimated aircraft noise exposure and annoyance due to the sound of aircraft.This relationship was stronger than that observed between self-reports of observed number of aircraft overflights and annoyance, and that between exposure to aircraft and reported overall enjoyment. Annoyance due to aircraft noise, although closely related to exposure, was not reliably predictable from a set of nonaircraft-related items. Noticeability of aircraft was not related to visitor activities. Once they noticed aircraft, visitors engaged in water- or stock-related activities tended to be more annoyed by aircraft overflights than visitors who did not engage in these activities. Overall enjoyment of visits to wildernesses was unrelated to any other variable, as was intention to revisit the wilderness. Because virtually all respondents reported that they enjoyed their visits and intended to return, such measures offer little opportunity to assess the impact of aircraft overflights on recreationists. These results indicate that annoyance is a more practical measure of the impact of aircraft overflights on recreationists than more global measures of satisfaction or behavioral intent. Current means of measureing exposure cannot, however, support the precise et cost-effective estimates of dosage-response relationships needed for management purposes.