Aircraft Noise

ANEF and ANEI

We are responsible for certifying Australian Noise Exposure Forecasts (ANEF) and Australian Noise Exposure Index (ANEI) charts.

The Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) system is a scientific measure of the aircraft noise exposure levels around aerodromes. It is the only endorsed measure that is used for Land Use Planning and can also be used to give an indication of assessing average community response to aircraft noise.

Australian Noise Exposure Forecast

In the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF), a variation on the USA NEF system, noise exposure levels are calculated in ANEF units, which take into account the following factors of aircraft noise:

• The intensity, duration, tonal content and spectrum of audible frequencies of the noise of aircraft take offs, approaches to landing, flyover and reverse thrust after landing.
• The forecast frequency of aircraft types and movements on the various flight paths, including flight paths used for circuit training.
• The average daily distribution of aircraft arrivals and departures in both day-time and night-time (day-time defined as between 07:00am and 07:00pm and night-time defined as between 07:00pm and 07:00am).

ANEF charts are prepared for all of the major and regional airports and most of the minor aerodromes that have a large number of annual movements throughout Australia. They show the forecast of aircraft noise levels that is expected to exist in the future.

The charts are plans of the aerodrome and the surrounding localities on which noise exposure contours of ANEF units have been drawn. These contours indicate land areas around an aerodrome that are exposed to aircraft noise; the higher the ANEF value, the greater the noise exposure.

The Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) system is a scientific measure of the aircraft noise exposure levels around aerodromes. It is the only Government endorsed measure that is used for land use planning and can also be used to give an indication of assessing average community response to aircraft noise. The ANEF system is the basis of Australian Standard AS 2021-2000 (Acoustics - aircraft noise intrusion – building, siting and construction).

For enquiries and endorsement of ANEF/ANEI please contact:
Manager, Environment & Climate Change
GPO Box 367
Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone (02) 6268 4785

To lodge a complaint regarding aircraft noise, please use our online form.

To contact the Noise Enquiry Service phone 1800 802 584 (freecall) or 1300 302 240 (local call)
or write to:
Noise Enquiry Service
PO Box 211
Mascot NSW 1460
Email: community.relations@airservicesaustralia.com