Quota Count Validation Study: Noise Measurements and Analysis

This report describes a study that was undertaken on behalf of the Department for Transport's Aircraft Noise Monitoring Advisory Committee (ANMAC) to monitor the noise performance of aircraft in relation to their quota count (QC) classifications (or bands). Operational noise levels, measured in EPNdB at airport locations equivalent to the noise certification measurement positions, were acquired and analysed for a large range of aircraft types that operate at night at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. For the majority of aircraft types monitored, the operational noise levels correlated well with the QC bands. However, large differences between the operational noise levels and the QC bands were observed for a few aircraft types.