Managing Aircraft Noise

Managing

Aircraft

Noise

Adelaide Airport is the aviation gateway to Adelaide and

South Australia.

Aircraft noise is an unavoidable product of aviation

connections to any city. Adelaide Airport Limited (AAL) is

acutely aware that the economic and employment benets

of the airport, need to be balanced with the impacts of

aircraft noise to surrounding areas.

AAL works with all levels of Government, airlines, and

community to ensure measures are in place to manage

aircraft noise.

There are a broad range of programs in place to manage

aircraft noise around the airport. These include:

• Working with stakeholders to observe the existing curfew

arrangements

• Consulting and engaging with the local community

• Working closely with the Commonwealth, State

and Local Governments

• Consulting with the airlines that use the airport

• Investing in airport infrastructure to support

new-generation quieter aircraft

The aircraft industry has been designing and building

quieter aircraft that now operate in Australia. This reduces

aircraft noise exposure for residents under ight paths.

Many passenger aircraft, both domestic and international,

are using required navigation procedures combined with

continuous descent procedures, which allow the design

of ight paths that minimise aircraft noise exposure for

residential areas.

Managing Aircraft Noise

AAL recognises the

need for the airport to

assist in managing

aircraft noise for the

surrounding

communities by working

closely with the airlines

(the generators of the

noise) and Airservices

Australia (the airspace

manager).

ORGANISATION RESPONSIBILITY

Airlines Airlines purchase particular types of aircraft which are suitable for the

routes they wish to y, or are currently ying, into and out of Adelaide

Airport.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

ICAO is responsible for setting noise standards for manufacturers of

new aircraft.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)

CASA is responsible for regulation and ensuring safe operation of

civil aviation in Australia. CASA is responsible for approving the use

of new aircraft types in Australia.

Airservices Australia

Airservices manages the airspace around Australia to maintain

control over the movement of aircraft into, and out of, airports in

Australia. Airservices also designs and manages the ight paths

and manages aircraft-noise complaints and enquiries through its

Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS).

Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO)

The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman oversees the handling of

aircraft-noise enquiries and complaints by Airservices and the

Commonwealth Department of Defence.

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and

Communications (DITRDC)

The Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport,

Regional Development and Communications (DITRDC) develops

and enforces the policy and regulatory framework for airports

and the aviation industry and administers the Airports Act 1996.

DITRDC also administers the Adelaide Airport curfew, including

dispensations and regulatory matters for certain aircraft to operate

during the curfew period.

Adelaide Airport Limited (AAL)

AAL is responsible for providing and maintaining aviation

infrastructure at a high standard for aircraft movements and

passenger moments at the airport. AAL does not control aircraft

noise. AAL actively manages ground-based noise at the airport.

Adelaide Airport Consultative Committee &

Adelaide Airport Technical Working Group

The Adelaide Airport Consultative Committee is the primary

community forum used to discuss airport related issues impacting

the community including aircraft noise.

The Adelaide Airport Technical Working Group sub-committee

discusses aircraft-noise management and improvement

opportunities.

Aircraft noise is an unavoidable impact of aircraft operations. Roles and responsibilities regarding aircraft-noise management

vary across a range of organisations, as shown in the table below.

Roles and Responsibilities of Aircraft Noise Management

Communicating Aircraft

Noise Information

AAL recognises the need for the airport to assist in

managing aircraft noise for the surrounding communities by

working closely with the airlines (the generators of the noise)

and Airservices (the airspace manager).

AAL continues to engage with local communities

surrounding the airport through a range of committees

and forums, such as the Adelaide Airport Consultative

Committee. This Committee comprises local community

representatives and key Government and regulatory

stakeholders and is a forum where issues relating to

the operations of the airport, and potential eects on

the local community can be raised. Issues such as the

management of the curfew, master planning and aircraft

ight path improvements are regularly discussed, including

presentations from airlines and Airservices Australia.

Flight Paths

Flight paths are like highways in the sky where aircraft y the

majority of the time as they arrive and depart an airport.

Airservices Australia is the Commonwealth Government

organisation responsible for the design of (and changes to)

ightpaths and the management of air trac arriving and

departing Adelaide Airport. Flight path design is a complex

process based on Australian and International design

standards. AAL actively works with Airservices Australia in

ensuring optimised airspace and the consideration of safety,

eciency and environment.

Noise Abatement Procedures

Noise abatement procedures are implemented at all major

airports, including Adelaide Airport, to reduce the impact

of aircraft noise on the community. The use of noise

abatement procedures, which include preferred runway

use and preferred ight paths, are applied by Airservices

air trac control, subject to weather conditions and aircraft

requirements. As aircraft take-o and land into the wind for

safety and performance reasons, Adelaide’s seasonal wind

patterns primarily inuence the use of runways. Runway

23 is used more in summer, where aircraft depart over the

coast and arrive from the CBD direction. Runway 05 is used

more in winter, where aircraft depart towards the CBD and

arrive from over the coast.

Adelaide Airport Curfew

Adelaide Airport currently operates under a legislated curfew

subject to the Adelaide Airport Curfew Act 2000 and the

Adelaide Airport Curfew Regulations 2000, to limit noise

exposure from aircraft at night during the curfew hours of

11:00pm - 6:00am.

The Curfew is administered independent of Adelaide

Airport, by the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure,

Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

The Department is the only organisation that can make a

determination of a curfew violation. Airservices Australia

monitors which aircraft operate during curfew periods and

provides reports to the Department.

The Adelaide Airport curfew is not a blanket restriction on

aircraft operations at night as some aircraft are permitted

to operate during the curfew. As outlined in the Act and

Regulations, take-os and landings at the airport are

restricted to specic types of aircraft and operations. These

include:

• Low-noise heavy freight aircraft. These aircraft carry

medical supplies, perishable produce and other items

which require urgent delivery times. A maximum of 15

take-os and 25 landings are permitted each week

• Medical emergency ights, such as Royal Flying Doctor

Service ights

• Medevac helicopters

Describing Aircraft Noise

Aircraft noise is generated both by the aircraft’s engines

and by air passing over its airframe. Dierent models and

sizes of aircraft produce dierent types and loudness of

noise. These characteristics depend on the type of engine

(propeller or jet), aerodynamic noise (aected by how

modern the aerodynamic design is) and how the aircraft is

ying (its speed and weight characteristics; how it takes o

and lands).

Aircraft noise is dierent to other forms of noise in that it

occurs sporadically and from an elevated source. Other

forms of noise such as background urban transport noise

occur more frequently, with morning and evening peaks and

at ground level.

Although aircraft noise is sporadic, it can occur at regular

or frequent intervals, depending on airline schedules. The

noise from aircraft increases closer to airports when aircraft

descend prior to landing. At low levels, aircraft noise can be

very loud but only for a short period of time.

Aircraft noise is measured and analysed in terms of

frequency of occurrence, peak noise levels during an

overight, loudness levels, and duration of the noise event.

These characteristics are integrated over longer periods of

time to describe the aircraft noise exposure at locations

Ground-Based Noise

AAL regularly consults with airlines to encourage use of

the ground power and pre-conditioned and compressed

air facilities provided at Terminal 1. This reduces noise

associated with the use of auxiliary power units and early

engine start-ups. Additionally, AAL has implemented an

Engine Ground Running Policy and guidelines for the ground

running of aircraft engines. Ground-based noise and curfew

enquiries can be made directly with Adelaide Airport directly

via email ([email protected]) or by phoning the Airport

Management Centre during oce hours on (08) 8308 9211.

Previous Insulation Scheme

In 2000 the Commonwealth Government initiated a noise

insulation program for buildings in areas of high aircraft

noise exposure.

Insulation works on some houses and

public buildings continued until 2012 when the

scheme was

concluded.

Certain residential properties and public buildings (schools,

places of worship, day care centres and hospitals) were

eligible for assistance under the program.

This scheme was undertaken independent of AAL

and inquiries on the scheme can be directed to the

Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport,

Regional Development and Communications.

Learn more about aircraft

noise in Adelaide

Airservices Australia hosts a free online system called

WebTrak where the public can access information about

where and how aircraft y within 55km of Adelaide Airport.

WebTrak provides users with information about arriving

and departing aircraft (from three months to just 40 minutes

prior to your inquiry) along with noise data from Airservices’

mointoring stations.

Online aircraft tracking web pages and apps like Flightradar

24 may also assist with noise enquiries.

For detailed information on air trac, aircraft movements and

ight paths at Adelaide Airport, visit the Airservices Australia

Adelaide page: http://aircraftnoiseinfo.emsbk.com/adelaide/

home/

How can I lodge a complaint

about aircraft noise?

Airservices Australia is the responsible entity for managing

ight paths and airspace and is also the body that addresses

complaints and enquiries about aircraft noise and operations

through its dedicated Noise Complaints and Information

Service (NCIS). A complaint or enquiry to Airservices can be

made via:

• Online: https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/

aircraftnoise/about-making-a-complaint/how-to-make-a-

complaint

• Phone: 1800 802 584 (free call)

• Mail: Noise Complaints and Information Service, PO Box

211, Mascot NSW 1460

• Directly via WebTrak: http://www.airservicesaustralia.

com/aircraftnoise/webtrak/

Independent Complaints

Review Process

The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) conducts independent

administrative reviews of Airservices Australia’s management

of aircraft noise related activities including the handling of

complaints or enquiries made to Airservices Australia about

aircraft noise and community consultation processes related

to aircraft noise. For more information, or if you feel your

noise complaint was not managed eectively by Airservices

Australia, you can contact the ANO via: www.ano.gov.au/

complaints/

• Cobham Aviation BAe146 aircraft undergoing scheduled

maintenance (subject to approved dispensation from the

Department).

• Approved aircraft listed in under Regulation 7 of the

Regulations. These are listed as specied types of jet

aircraft; of a maximum take-o weight of 34,000 kilograms

or less; and comply with the Air Navigation (Aircraft Noise)

Regulations

1998.

The Secretary of the Department has the power to approve an

aircraft to operate during the curfew period (a dispensation).

A dispensation is granted by the Department only where the

aircarft operator meets the exceptional circumstances criteria

set out by the Department. For more information on the

Curfew refer to the Department’s Curfew Factsheet.

Quieter Aircraft Technology

Technological advancements in aircraft technology have

reduced aircraft fuel consumption, air pollution, and noise

emissions signicantly over the last 30 years and this is

expected to continue in the future. The aircraft industry has

been designing and building quieter aircraft that now operate

in Australia. This reduces aircraft noise exposure for residents

under ight paths. AAL is planning for infrastructure that

supports newer generation quieter aircraft.

Construction

Site

Passing

Vehicles

Level

at which

conversation

is interrupted

indoors

Rock

Concert

Living

Room

Rundle

Mall

Jet Take-off

(25m Distance)

Australian Noise

Exposure Forecast

The most eective means for reducing the impact of aircraft

noise is through the eective long-term planning of land use

for areas adjacent to the airport site.

The Australian Noise Exposure Forecasts (ANEF) system

is the aircraft noise exposure forecasting system currently

adopted in Australia for land use planning.

The ANEF system provides a scientic measure of aircraft

noise exposure from aircraft operations around an airport

and in conjunction with Australian Standard 2021-2015

Acoustics – Aircraft noise intrusion – Building siting and con-

struction guides land use planning surrounding the airport.

The following factors are considered in calculating

the ANEF:

• The intensity, duration tonal content and spectrum of

audible frequencies of the noise of aircraft take-os,

landings and reverse-thrust after landing

• The forecast frequency of aircraft types and movements

on the various ight paths (the ANEF modelling has not

anticipated any major changes to the ights paths into

and out of Adelaide Airport)

• The average daily distribution of aircraft take-os and

landing movements in both daytime (7.00am to 7.00pm)

and night time (7.00pm to 7.00am) hours

• The topography of the area surrounding the airport

A copy of the ANEF is available in Chapter 13 of the Master

Plan.

Adelaide Airport Master

Plan 2019

The Adelaide Airport Master Plan 2019 outlines the vision

for the development of Adelaide Airport to support the

continued growth of air travel and the State economy. The

Master Plan 2019 was approved by the Federal Minister for

Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development on 2

March 2020.

The Master Plan 2019 was developed through extensive

stakeholder and community consultation and covers all

aspects of airport planning and operations – from forecast

aeronautical growth and associated development through

to ground transport, airport safeguarding, land uses,

environment strategies, aircraft noise and commercial

development.

View the approved 2019 Adelaide Airport Master Plan

here: www.adelaideairport.com.au/corporate/community/

adelaide-airport-master-plan/

Number-Above Contours

Number-Above contours are used to inform the community

of current and future noise exposure. Number-Above

contours illustrate the average number of events per day

that exceed a certain nose level.

For example, N70 noise contours would represent the

average number of daily noise events above 70 decibels (dB)

caused by over-ying aircraft. 70 dB is approximately 60

dB indoors, with windows open to a normal extent, which is

the approximate noise level that could interfere with normal

conversation or with listening to television. N70 maps for the

area around Adelaide Airport are provided in Chapter 13 of

the Master Plan.