Noise Pollution

Noise Pollution    

  If you have ever lived near an airport, I'm sure you are well aware of the loud noises coming from aircrafts departing and landing. Noise management has become more and more of a problem for airports around the world due to urbanization around airports. People living near a major airport experience around 65 decibels of noise every time an aircraft passes near them wether it is during the day or night. Since this has become more of a problem for local communities, airports have been proactive in finding new solutions to combat aircraft noise. 

    One of the most common techniques airports have used to reduce noise is to reshape approach and departure routes. They find the least populated area from which an approach or departure can be made, and put the routes over that area. With technology such as RNAV's and FMS, it can allow aircrafts to descend from a higher altitude to reduce the noise over these areas. "The higher flight path combined with lower engine thrust helps to reduce noise exposure in the communities surrounding the airport." (Visser, 2009) With the advancement of aircraft technology, noises from the engines have gotten significantly more quiet over the last decade which has helped reduce loud noises over communities. Some airports also have a nighttime curfew, where the airport closes and no airplanes are allowed to takeoff or land. 

    Although airports have been making a huge effort to reduce noise over populated areas, it is still a problem many people have to deal with on a day to day basis. Since engines usually create the most noise during takeoff and landing, I would recommend installing sound absorbing liners to reduce the amount of noise it produces. If new communities are being built under normal flight paths, I would recommend installing soundproofing so aircraft noises are not as loud inside. Lastly, I would recommend that more airports implement reduced thrust takeoffs, displaced thresholds for landing, and continuous descent operations.

References: 

Gallagher, T. (2021, November 16). Noise pollution: How are airports and airlines addressing the issue? euronews. Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/11/16/noise-pollution-how-are-airports-and-airlines-addressing-the-issue

Reducing noise. Aviation Benefits Beyond Borders. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://aviationbenefits.org/environmental-efficiency/reducing-noise/#:~:text=With%20support%20from%20the%20air,thresholds%20and%20continuous%20descent%20operations.

Visser, H. G., Hebly, S. J., & A., W. R. A. (2009). Management of the environmental impact at airport operations. Nova Science Publishers.