Evaluation of lateral attenuation for aircraft flyover and ground operation noise in airport noise modeling

Abstract

At the side of flight path, especially on the side of runway, noise level observed greatly changes dependent on the effects of excess ground attenuation and meteorological conditions (in particular, vector wind and temperature gradient). Thus, taking account of appropriate adjustment for lateral attenuation in airport noise modeling leads to an increase in the reliability of predictions. This paper makes a review of equations for lateral attenuation such as SAE/AIR 1751, SAE/AIR 5662, and our equation 1751M, which is a modified equation we proposed based on AIR/1751 and is applicable under various meteorological conditions. It is also described with further issues related to the examining of lateral attenuation for aircraft flyover noise. In Japan, it is obligatory to take into account noise contributions of aircraft ground operations such as APU operation, taxiing, and engine run-up in airport noise modeling. However, we have not yet fully examined whether we can evaluate lateral attenuation of such ground noise similarly to flyover noise. It is not yet solved how to calculate excess ground attenuation under the effects of sound shielding by barriers or embankment. This paper also discusses how to evaluate lateral attenuation for noise due to aircraft ground operations.