Research Into the Improvement of the Management of Helicopter Noise (NANR235)
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www.defra.gov.uk Resea rch into the Improvement of the Mana gement of Helicopter Noise June 2008 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR Tel: 020 7238 6000 Website: www.defra.gov.uk © Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO 2007 This publication is value added. If you wish to re-use this material, please apply for a Click-Use Licence for value added material at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/value- added-licence-information/index.htm. Alternatively applications can be sent to Office of Public Sector Information, Information Policy Team, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ; Fax: +44 (0)1603 723000; email: [email protected] Information about this publication and further copies are available from: Local Environment Protection Defra Nobel House Area 2A 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR Email: [email protected] This document is also available on the Defra website and has been prepared by Salford University. Published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Research into the Improvement of the Management of Helicopter Noise (NANR235) Performed on behalf of Defra DEFRA NANR235: Project report Executive Summary Introduction 3) Problems related to noise generated 2) The UK has world-class expertise This report describes research undertaken on the ground at aerodromes should regarding community response to to investigate the improvement of the be referred to the Local Authority. soundscapes. This expertise could be management of helicopter noise in the 4) Consultative committees to enable exploited in future research, and to UK. This work was carried out on behalf dialogue between residents, councils improve dose-response relationships of the Department for Environment, Food and heliport operators have been for helicopter noise. and Rural Affairs (Defra) by the University shown to improve understanding and 3) The UK has world-class expertise in of Salford and QinetiQ (Farnborough) Ltd. acceptance by the public. helicopter noise propagation prediction The aims of this study were to determine 5) The failure to act on complaints is one and in the measurement of source the issues and the extent of the reported of the largest causes of dissatisfaction noise from helicopters. This expertise, problem of noise from helicopter and resentment amongst the currently only available within MOD operations in the UK, and to develop public. programmes, could be exploited in practical guidance on the management of future civil noise mapping. helicopter noise, including improvements Rules and regulations governing Recommendations in the handling of complaints. helicopter operations 1) Academic research is required to 1) BHAB codes of practice aim to Methodology better understand the human persuade helicopter pilots and The methodology used to achieve these response to helicopter noise. In operators to take more notice of aims included a worldwide literature defining new approaches, the low environmental noise issues. search, a survey of stakeholders, and a incidence rate of most helicopter 2) Helicopter noise certification does not One-day Meeting carried out under the operations and the non-acoustic auspices of the Institute of Acoustics. address community annoyance caused factors, also known as ‘virtual noise’, by helicopter noise. A gradual which encompasses community Conclusions reduction in the certification levels will attitudes and fears towards the Nature and extent of the concern not address public acceptability. operations, should be considered. about helicopters noise in the UK 3) In England, the current land use 2) Complaints should be collected and 1) Problems due to helicopter noise are planning guidance (PPG24) states that logged in a central database. This centred on helicopter infrastructure noisy and noise sensitive land uses should embrace all sources including such as holding areas, heliports and should be kept apart. PPG24 provides the CAA, the MOD, local authorities, aerodromes. However, unlike fixed- advice to assist with the consideration operators and airfield managers. wing aircraft noise, helicopter noise is of new residential development near Attention should be paid to methods often not directly attributable to a existing sources of aircraft noise, but utilised in Australia where monthly specific heliport or airfield. the guidance states that it should be reports on complaint statistics are 2) Compared with fixed-wing aircraft, the used with caution where there is provided to stakeholders. ratio of movements to the number of existing helicopter noise. PPG24 3) Pilots should be made more aware of complaints received is generally small contains limited planning guidance on helicopter noise, perhaps during for most helicopter operations. the noise impact of new heliports. training for the Private Pilots Licence 3) The consensus among stakeholders is (PPL) or Basic Flying Training for the that there is increasing opposition to Dose response relationships military pilot. Such a scheme, the HAI’s the development of heliports on the 1) Helicopters can be up to 15dB more ‘Fly neighbourly’ program, is grounds of noise disturbance. annoying than fixed-winged aircraft. successfully operated in the US, 4) There is no comprehensive database However, helicopter noise levels alone Germany and other countries. This can of helicopter movements in the UK. do not account for annoyance trends be part of the best practical means of Consequently, it is impossible to in communities. minimising noise complaints. determine the extent to which noise 2) There is no single satisfactory noise 4) Applied research is required so that nuisance is a growing concern. index for the measurement or land use planning guidance, such as 5) Precise determination of the scale of prediction of the impact of noise on PPG24 in England, can be revised. public concern about helicopter noise the community. Specific land use planning guidance would require a careful social study. 3) Noise maps displaying Lden are not needs to be developed for the Procedures in place for handling suitable to be used for the prediction assessment of noise from helicopter helicopter noise complaints of subjective response of communities operations. 1) The CAA acts as a focal point for to helicopter noise. 5) Developers need to be encouraged to receiving and responding to aircraft- enhance sound insulation in new / related environmental complaints Opportunities for improvements change-of-use builds near helicopter from the public1. The CAA 1) The UK has world-leading expertise in bases. encourages noise complaints to be the sound insulation of residences 6) For accurate prediction of made directly to the airport operator. from helicopter noise. This expertise environmental noise from helicopter 2) Complaints regarding military flights could be exploited by designers and operations, and for noise maps, data should be addressed to the base's planners with regard to future on the source noise of civil helicopters community liaison officer. building developments in the vicinity needs to be obtained. of helicopter operations. 1CAP 724 Airspace Charter, November 2007 (Directorate of Airspace Policy, CAA). 1 DEFRA NANR235: Project report Summary I) Objectives wing aircraft for the same or lower operations over London. RAF Shawbury 1) To investigate the reported adverse measured sound level. Studies attempting reports receiving 313 noise complaints in impacts of helicopter noise and to to relate dose-response with annoyance due 2007. provide information on the nature and to helicopter operations have produced As a result of debate at the One-day extent of the concern about helicopters poor correlation and have been broadly meeting it was revealed that the ratio of noise in the UK. criticised. There is no straightforward helicopter movements to number of 2) Compile a summary of procedures in relationship between objective noise and complaints received is generally very small place for handling helicopter noise subjective annoyance. No good correlation for most operations. The consensus complaints and the roles, responsibilities with complaints has been found with LAeq, amongst stakeholders is that there is not a and powers of the related authorities LCeq, LAmax, L10 and LAmax-L90. Studies significant helicopter noise problem in the and organisations. addressing the noise from light aircraft and UK. However, problems do exist and these 3) Compile a summary of the current rules microlights reveal similar issues; that noise are centred on helicopter infrastructure such and regulations governing helicopter level may be a secondary issue and different as specific heliports and aerodromes. operations, any current relevant industry indices may be required for low volume However, this may simply be because codes of practice, and any existing operations. complainers near to an airfield/heliport reported dose response relationships. Reaction to helicopter noise is determined know who to complain to, whereas those 4) Identify opportunities for improvement that live further away do not. and make recommendations on how by acoustic and non-acoustic 'virtual' noise. improvements could be implemented. Non-acoustic factors are thought to be of equal or greater importance and may be V) Results – procedures for handling II) Methodology triggered by impulsive/tonal noise generated complaints, roles and The methodology used to complete these by the rotors. This means that addressing responsibilities and