Test with sound perception airplane passages Ryanair

Eindhoven Air Base will measure the noise perception of local residents in departing aircraft during a test that takes place from Monday 20 to Sunday, August 26, 2018. Ryanair then makes various use of two so-called climbing profiles. Only Ryanair aircraft participate in the investigation.

The climbing profile that a departing plane flies can influence the sound experience. The difference between these profiles is mainly determined by the moment when the pilot starts accelerating after take-off. In a part of the environment, this choice affects the altitude at which an aircraft passes and the speed at which it flies. Although the climbing profile is not the only determining factor for the sound experience on the ground, it is interesting to let the local residents experience the difference.

Online survey
The flight numbers for the Ryanair flights are (daily) announced on the website of Defense. Local residents can indicate how the passage was experienced when compared to their normal daily experience by means of an online survey. Feedback from local residents is supported by measurements with existing measuring posts along the departure route. At the end of the pilot week, the data of each passage is processed and analyzed by the Dutch Aerospace Center (NLR). Air traffic control will in turn examine what space – technically and on the basis of the regulations – there is  to possibility switch to a different climbing profile.

Masterclass
The test comes from the three-day master class Redesigning Eindhoven Air Traffic. Together with local residents, the air base investigated possibilities to limit noise. Knowledge from aviation was combined with knowledge from the ground. The master class yielded many opportunities, insights and ideas. Defense is in discussion with various parties to carry out the initial ideas.