Assessing noise impacts from light aircraft

Abstract

Typically in Australia, aircraft noise is assessed against the Building Site Acceptability criteria set out in Australian Standard 2021:2015 Acoustics-Aircraft noise intrusion-Building siting and construction (AS 2021), which uses the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) system for land use planning around airports. However, the ANEF system and AS 2021 are not intended to present information about potential impacts from aircraft noise (such as from light aircraft operations) that may be experienced within the community and are considered deficient as a useful tool for describing aircraft noise to potential noise sensitive receivers. This paper discusses a methodology that may be used to better subjectively assess the environmental noise impacts from light aircraft taking into account the issues related to light aircraft operations, such as the level, duration and tonal content of noise from the aircraft. The paper will focus on observations made on a recent study of noise monitoring undertaken in March 2023 for light aircraft trial flights in Canberra ACT. This paper discusses a methodology that may be used to better subjectively assess the environmental noise impacts from light aircraft taking into account the issues related to light aircraft operations, such as the level, duration and tonal content of noise from the aircraft. The paper will focus on observations made on a recent study of noise monitoring undertaken in March 2023 for light aircraft trial flights in Canberra ACT.