Evaluation of aircrafts noise propagation in the Palanga airport

Abstract

This article deals with the problem of noise in the airport of Palanga, the main resort city of Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. It should be noted that aircraft noise is distinguished by high sound levels and a large area of pollution within the territory. Thus the increased interest in aircraft noise, organizational and technical measures, aimed at achieving the reduction of unfavourable effect of noise on the population, may be explained. An unfavourable effect of noise on man is usually related to general irritation, noise disturbances when speaking and listening to the radio, watching TV; inability to get sleep or early awakening, difficulty to concentrate on the performance of a specific work, and under the long-term effect of noise the possible health deterioration, etc. A degree of that effect depends on the human reaction to noise and on the physical specifications of noise. For evaluation of the effect of noise, it is necessary to investigate it. Since the Palanga Airport is situated close the largest and most important health resort of Lithuania, aircraft noise, as well as its effect on the holiday-makers, was measured and evaluated. Noise measurements of aeroplanes, landing and taking-off in the Palanga Airport, were conducted in August 2000. The work presents primary aircraft noise measurements at the airport performed according to the ICAO and European standards. Measurements results were processed according to the special program and methods with the help of the fixed "Brüel & Kjoer" apparatus. From the exploratory results obtained in the testings, minute analytical noise spectra were drawn in real time, at the measurement points. The maximal levels and the type of noise of different kinds of aircraft were drawn in 1/3 octave spectra. Calculations were made, according to the international computer program recommend by ICAO, of the contours of aircraft noise at the airport.