FAQ - What Are The Salient Characteristics Of Airplane Noise That Makes Them Annoying To Listeners In A Community

Question: What are the salient characteristics of airplane noise that makes them annoying to listeners in a community?

Answer: Exposure to airplane noise makes for the sensation of annoyance to the airplane sound. In general, several factors influence the individual?s annoyance level. They are: (a) How high is the ?A? weighted noise level experienced by the listener at the peak point of the individual flyover event? Implicit to the level is the frequency (pitch) contents of the sound. (For example, higher pitch tone levels are counted more). (b) The duration of the flyover noise event, (c) The number of noise events impacting the individual over a period of time, say on 24 hour day, and (d) Noise experience at night is more annoying than that during day time.

In coming up with the numbers in LDN or CNEL units to describe the community noise exposure level over a period of time (24 hour day, or average of 24 hour days over a year), all the factors described above are taken into detailed calculations. They are based on continuing noise monitoring and measurements at a given location.


This FAQ refers to the following subjects:
City Hall/Citizen Committees
Community Info/New Resident Info