| FUNDAMENTALS |
| When most pilots talk about noise reduction, they refer solely to reducing the amount of noise emitted by their models. This is an important component of reducing noise complaints, but is by no means the whole answer. In order to understand how to successfully avoid noise complaints, we need to reconsider some fundamental points. The key concept to remember is that we are trying to reduce the noise perceived by potential complainants. We are not trying to quieten aircraft per se, we are trying to avoid noise complaints. The noise perceived by the potential complainant and the amount of irritation caused depends on a number of factors, all of which must be addressed in order to get the best results. |
| Where aircraft are flown When aircraft are flown How aircraft are flown How many aircraft are flown How much noise each aircraft emits Quality of noise emitted Who the people affected are |
| Where ? Complaints don't occur if there is no-one around to hear them. How close are you flying to potential complainants ? The important points here are to try and choose a flying site as far from other people as possible, but also on a given site, flying in certain directions may cause you to overfly potential complainants. Careful control of where aircraft are overflying is a vital part of avoiding complaints. When ? Noise at certain times has higher nuisance value (e.g. evenings, summer afternoons). Unfortunately, some of these times may be when we wish to fly. Attempts should be made, however, to limit the burden of noise at sensitive times, perhaps by flying alternate weekends on two different sites. How ? Certain types of flying are perhaps more likely to produce irritation, e.g. constant level circuits at high power. This is linked to the amount of time spent on high throttle settings, the height of the aircraft (less obstacles to noise carrying a long way), and the increased irritation of a constant whine. How many ? More aircraft = more noise. Thus limiting the number of aircraft in the air at any one time may reduce the amount of noise reaching the ear of a potential complainant. How much ? The sound perceived by the complainant depends on the amount of noise emitted by the aircraft. Thus by reducing the noise emission from each aircraft, the chance of a complaint can be lessened. A further point is that it is not just the volume of the sound that is important. Some sounds appear to be more irritating than others regardless of volume, and so the quality of the noise emitted is also a factor. This too is amenable to modification. Who ? Some people are more sensitive to extraneous noise in their environment than others, and the public usually do not share our love of the sound of an IC piston engine. The way noise from aircraft is perceived can be modified by showing our sport in a favourable light - those who are well disposed to our activities are likely to be more tolerant of our noise. This means being good neighbours, getting involved in the community, and being proactive in promoting our sport. Conversely, if a complainant is ill-disposed to the sport, even very low levels of noise (or even no discernable noise at all !) may trigger complaints. |
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| What you need to understand in order to put together a noise reduction strategy |
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