Noise Research

Roadmap and Update

REDAC – E&E Subcommittee

Rebecca Cointin, Manager, AEE-100

March 18, 2015

Presented to:

By:

Date:

Federal Aviation

Administration

Federal Aviation

Administration

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1

Noise Goal

Reduce the number of people exposed to significant noise around U.S. airports in absolute terms, notwithstanding aviation growth, and provide additional measures to protect public health and welfare and our national resources.

Specifically, by 2018, have the U.S. population exposed to significant aircraft noise around airports have been reduced to less than 300,000 persons

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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Drivers of Research

Even though the number of people in the U.S. exposed to significant aircraft noise since 1975 has dropped by 95 percent, complaints, opposition and challenges continue to be an issue

Ability to answer the question on whether there has been a significant change in public perception of noise.

Gather new, updated data to have a strong scientific support for any policy decisions regarding aviation noise

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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Noise Research in AEE Research

AEE Research Overview:

Characterize the Problem and Assess Risk

Develop mitigation solutions

Manage system performance

NextGen Five-Pillar Environmental Approach

P1: Improved Scientific Knowledge and Integrated Modeling

P2: New Aircraft Technologies

P3: Sustainable Alternative Aviation Fuels

P4: Air Traffic Management Modernization and Operational Improvements

P5: Policies, Environmental Standards, and Market Based Measures

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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5

Federal Aviation

Administration

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5

Commercial Space Noise Research

Goal: Tool Development and Guidance

Launch Noise  and Sonic Boom Modeling Methodology

Developing guidance of required elements for a modeling methodology

Goal is to have this part of the FAA Order 1050 Desk Reference

Current Sonic Boom Modeling completed using PCBoom

ACRP solicitation released which will develop a launch noise and sonic boom tool

Developing a research plan centered around NEPA needs

Example is appropriate metrics to represent launch noise and sonic boom

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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UAS Noise Certification

Goal: Policy/Guidance on UAS Certification

Since there are no size, weight, use or other configuration specifications that preclude UAS from qualifying as aircraft for certification purposes, they are required to comply with the noise certification requirements of Title 14 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 36 (Part 36) 

Coordinating Internationally through CAEP WG1

Collecting information from States on their procedures

Determining if an internationally agreed upon process is needed (similar to what we have developed for other aircraft types)

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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7

UAS Noise Certification

AEE has initiated a project aimed at reviewing and developing noise certification requirements and procedures that would apply to UAS.  

The objective for the project is to investigate and evaluate a broad set of options for addressing noise certification issues of the current and future UAS fleet. 

Working to collect UAS noise data to support possible Part 36 modifications for UAS and to obtain noise data for modelling purposes.

Coordinating to try to leverage the UAS Test Sites

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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8

UAS Noise Research Beyond Certification

Continuing to review potential uses for UAS and types of noise analysis may be needed

Potential metrics

Modeling methodologies

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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Helicopter Noise 

Los Angeles Helicopter Initiative

Continuing to endorse Voluntary Measures

Led by the Western-Pacific Region with AEE providing technical assistance as needed

Large group of stakeholders including operators and homeowner associations

Correlated Complaints (i.e. Noise Complaint System) 

Response to Recommendations from 2013 Report to Congress

Scheduled to go live March 31

Helicopter Annoyance

Two projects examining two potential methodologies to collect helicopter annoyance data

Both projects also look at non-auditory factors and non-auditory reactions to helicopter versus jet traffic

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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Helicopter Noise

Rotorcraft Noise Abatement Procedures

Expanding research on noise abatement procedures

Collaboration with AHS and HAI to update fly Neighborly Operational Procedures 

Exploring helicopter recertification 

Fleet Analysis and Technology Review

Through CAEP WG1

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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Domestic

Exploring the protocol for noise test community engagement

Determining other needs for reassessment of Part 91.817

CAEP WG1

SSTG to formulate applicable supersonic aircraft, sonic boom noise standard by defining applicability, boom metrics, acoustical measurement & acquisition, flight test procedures and noise limits.

Metric Selection – determining appropriate metric for noise certification

Procedure Development – developing flight test procedures, including flight profiles, aircraft states and ground microphone set ups

Supersonic Aircraft Research

Federal Aviation

Administration

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12

Noise Complaint Initiative

Representatives from across the lines of business and staff offices 

Kicked off in September with about a year’s duration

Two Goals:

Identify a consistent agency-wide process for addressing noise complaints 

Identify actions the FAA might take to better address the underlying issues raised by the complaints, including increased community engagement and further minimizing noise impacts where possible

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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Performance Based Navigation Research

Examining the effects of PBN procedures which may focus of noise on populations

Focused on three airports where RNAV/RNP has been implemented

Currently completed two phases:

Phase I: Calculated noise levels for multiple scenarios covering pre- and post-implementation of RNAV/RNP procedures

Phase II: Normalized scenarios to ensure equitable comparisons and re-examine noise changes at each of the study airports and looked at additional supplemental noise and operations metrics to describe noise associated with the PBN changes

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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PBN Research (continued)

Findings:

Many changes are happening at a single airport over multiple years

No single metric has yet to be identified to best represent impact of PBN procedures

Metrics Examined: DNL, Number Above LAMAX 75dBA and Number of Flight Operations Over Receptors (within 0.5 nm of receptor)

Changes seen in the study can be grouped in three categories:

Lateral Shifts (conventional to RNAV or RNAV to RNAV)

Change in Procedure usage

Profile/Vertical changes

Additional Research on Metrics will be the focus of the next phase of work

Project team includes members of AJV-114 (part of ATO) 

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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Update on National Survey

Objective

Conduct a new nation-wide survey to update the scientific evidence of the relationship between aircraft noise exposure and its effects on communities around airports

Survey Method

Survey people around airports in 5 dB bands from DNL 50 to 70 dB 

500 completed mail surveys around each airport (100 in each band)

Will resample the mail surveys to interview 107 people around each airport by phone (21 – 22 in each band)

Status 

OMB Review

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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FY15 Noise Projects

AEE Funded

Noise Impact Health Research

Noise emission and propagation modeling  

Civil, supersonic over flight, sonic boom (noise) standards development 

Noise Outreach

Sleep Disturbance

Support ASA Workgroup on dose-response for National Parks

Ray Tracing Development for Modeling

Launch Noise and Sonic Boom Research 

Aircraft Certification (CAEP support, validation tool development, validation)

Rotorcraft Noise Abatement Procedure Development

Examine airline flight data to improve flight performance modeling

PBN Research

ARP Funded

Annoyance Survey

Noise Level Reduction Work (Potential)

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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Considerations for FY16 and 17 Projects

Larger Sleep Study

Metric Re-evaluation with Survey data

Additional Helicopter Work 

Annoyance and/or Metrics

Additional UAS Measurement (if needed)

Children’s Learning (compliment ACRP project outcome)

Additional Park Dose-Response work 

NPS as a partner

Continued work in

Supersonics

Health

Propagation

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Federal Aviation

Administration

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