Annoyance by aircraft noise around small airports

Studies on annoyance caused by aircraft noise exposure were undertaken in eight areas near three small and medium sized airports to assess the validity of a previously developed principle to express the relevant noise exposure. The results showed a dose-response relationship for the extent of annoyance when the noise exposure was expressed as the number of noise events greater than or equal to 70 dB(A). The maximum noise levels did not influence the extent of annoyance. The practical application of this principle for control of aircraft noise is illustrated. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.