Aviation Noise Issues
Handout, How do we describe aircraft noise? 
600 kb
Effects of Noise on People
Noise affects people in a number of ways, which can be broken down into two general categories: auditory effects (hearing loss) and non-auditory effects (activity interference and physiological effects). Research has been conducted in the following specific areas:
Aircraft Noise Modeling Tools
Federal agencies have developed a number of prediction models to evaluate aircraft noise, including:
- The Integrated Noise Model (INM) has been FAA's standard tool since 1978 for determining the predicted noise impact in the vicinity of airports.
- NOISEMAP is the primary noise model used by the Department of Defense to predict cumulative noise around airports.
- The Noise Model Simulation (NMSim) is a noise simulation model that evolved from a NATO-CCMS study on the effects of topography on sound propagation around airfields. It was developed by the USAF and NASA for use in simulating noise for single events.
- The Noise Integrated Routing System (NIRS) is designed to provide an analysis of air traffic changes over broad areas. It is intended to work in conjunction with other air traffic models which provide the source of routes, events, and air traffic procedures.
- The Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) is under development by the FAA. When complete, AEDT will provide a common, transparent, integrated capability for computing and identifying interrelationships between noise and emissions and among various emissions at the aircraft, local, regional, and global levels.
Land Use Compatibility
Federal agencies have developed land use compatibility guidelines and recommendations for land use planning around airports and sound insulation.
Other Research Groups
FICAN coordinates with a number of other federal groups pursuing aviation noise research, including:
