Airservices is a government-owned corporation providing safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible services to the aviation industry. We manage air traffic operations for around 75 million passengers on more than three million flights every year.

Monitoring aircraft noise

Airservices Australia’s Noise and Flight Path Monitoring System (NFPMS) collects noise and flight path data at Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Essendon, Adelaide and Perth airports.

Quarterly reports are prepared for these airports containing NFPMS data.

This system is the world’s largest, most geographically-spread system of its type and collects noise and flight path data 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It records:

  • the identity, flight path and altitude of each aircraft operating to and from the airport
  • the noise levels produced by individual aircraft
  • weather data
  • general background noise.

The information collected is used to:

  • determine the contribution of aircraft to overall noise exposure
  • detect occurrences of excessive noise levels from aircraft operations
  • assess the effects of operational and administrative procedures for noise control and compliance with these procedures
  • assist in planning of airspace usage
  • validate noise forecasts and forecasting techniques
  • assist relevant authorities in land use planning for developments on areas in the vicinity of an airport
  • generate reports and provide responses to questions from Government, industry organisations, community groups and individuals.

How does it work?

Around each of the relevant airports there are a number of noise monitoring terminals. The terminals consist of a microphone on top of a 6 metre mast and an electronics box. The microphone continuously measures the noise level within the range of 30 to 130 decibels. Measurements are transmitted via a data line to the central computer where they are processed and stored for later analysis.

Apart from measuring aircraft noise, the terminals also continuously monitor background noise.

The NFPMS is also connected to the secondary surveillance radar at the airport which enables it to acquire flight track information on aircraft operating into and out of the airport.

When the level and duration of noise generated by a noise source in the vicinity of the terminal location exceeds the threshold levels that have been set for the site, a ‘noise event’ is recorded. The time and location of the noise event are checked against movement times and radar tracks of aircraft operating in the vicinity. If the time and location of the noise event match the movement time and radar track of an aircraft, the noise event is attributed to that aircraft. Otherwise, it is regarded as part of the background noise.

Incoming data stored in the central computer can be recalled to display the tracks flown by any aircraft operation, together with the noise levels produced at the terminal sites. The track information includes aircraft altitude and speed. The system also includes statistical and acoustical computation software to undertake analysis of noise or flight track information as required.

The public can access NFPMS information via WebTrak.

Technical Resources

Fundamentals of sound factsheet (PDF)
Federal Aviation Administration (US Department of Transport) Estimated Airplane Noise Levels in A-Weighted Decibels (PDF)