A Study Of General Aviation Community Noise Impact And Annoyance PDF Download

Aircraft noise effects on its environs have been a subject of discussion since the first aircraft jet took off into the skies some decades ago. To this end, airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, airports, and Federal, state and local governments have made substantial efforts to find ways to either reduce aircraft noise, or at best, make its impact manageable and acceptable to the airport neighbors. Hence, substantial resources have been devoted to the research and development of quieter aircraft engines, in addition to establishment of programs for existing engines and to develop noise compatibility projects. Also, to provide methods and formulae for predicting the annoyance effect of aircraft noise on the airport communities and to adequately study the health and other effects of aircraft noise on both humans and the environment. However, most of the these efforts were directed to major commercial airports with little or no consideration for reliever airports, as the latter was thought to be far away from major populated urban areas, with nothing but "cornfields and cows" as neighbors. As suburban sprawl continues to plague America, these airports that were once in the middle of nowhere are now experiencing the fast residential growth encroaching on them. Thus, the reliever airports are now becoming a source of major aircraft noise complaints. This thesis will examine aircraft noise abatement programs at reliever airports. It will use four reliever airports as a case study and to determine the effectiveness of the programs at each airport. In addition, it will examine the overall impact, if any, of the noise abatement programs on the individual airport community.