Instruments for aircraft noise
Microphones in specific configuration, calibration protocols and measurement equipment are used for aircraft type certification by national aviation authorities, who derive consensus on internationally consistent methods through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO,) an arm of the United Nations. These instruments provide a uniform measurement method to characterize the noise emissions of each type of aircraft, so that ICAO member states have a uniform gauge of the “noisiness” of any given aircraft operation for their own environmental and land use planning.
What do we cover
MT23 maintains IEC 61265, which is a comprehensive set of requirements for the instruments used in aircraft noise type certification and means to assure knowledge of their accuracy. The results of the measurements are a series of weighted sound level measurements and one-third-octave values as aircraft fly past the microphones during type certification testing. IEC 61265 does not cover reference flight conditions, navigation or flight test protocols or permissible levels, and does not cover measurements of aircraft operational noise in communities.
Why is it important
Noise impact of aircraft takeoffs, arrivals and overflights constitute a significant environmental impact. Standardization is essential for aircraft from a variety of manufacturers to propose their aircraft for service around the world using common methods, so that countries can be assured that measurements of different manufacturers’ products are comparable.
Experts / Countries
Active projects
Publications
IEC 61265:2018: Electroacoustics – Instruments for measurement of aircraft noise – Performance requirements for systems to measure sound pressure levels in noise certification of aircraft
David Josephson
Convenor