Characteristics of Noise from Aircraft Ground Operations

Noise impact in the surroundings of airports is not only governed by noise from departing and approaching aircraft but is also strongly affected by noise from ground operations, i.e. noise from decelerating or accelerating aircraft on the runway in particular, for which only few data is available in the open literature. Therefore a noise data base was acquired for different commercial aircraft coming in and leaving Munich Airport International according to the daily normal schedule. Noise spectra and directivities were determined for aircraft during take-off or landing with reverse thrust, respectively. In addition noise data were taken from aircraft during taxiing and for APU operation on the hub. While also noise directivities were acquired for different aircraft with either the APU operating alone or together with the air-condition system pass by noise levels from taxiing aircraft were just documented as level-time traces. From these records maximum overall A-weighted noise levels were determined for comparison with those from take-off and reverse thrust operation of landing aircraft, the latter being about 10 dB noisier compared to taxiing or APU operation.