Introduction to the Simulator

You initiate a flight out of New Bedford Airport by clicking the Take Off button. Flights move south-southwest (default direction) until they reach the edge of the map, or until you click the Erase Flight button.

A flight is represented by the intersection of its noise bubbles with the surface of the earth.

• A black disk shows where the flight is heard at 55 or more decibels. The airplane's noise is a noticeable presence throughout the blackened area.
• A purple disk shows where the flight is heard at 65 or more decibels. The airplane's noise disrupts conversations and thought within this area.
• A red disk shows where the flight is heard at 75 or more decibels. In this region the noise distresses people.
• A yellow disk shows where the flight is heard at 85 or more decibels. Bodily harm can result from the noise in this region.

You can adjust factors influencing surface sound by adjusting scrollbars at the right of the map. New Bedford "S-Southwest Operations" toward Dartmouth is the default direction (shown as 234 degrees S-Southwest). "North-Northeast Operations" Toward Acushnet can be seen by adjusting the Direction scrollbar towards the Left end to 054 degrees. Flights departing toward the S-SE Runway 14, can be viewed by setting the Direction scrollbar towards the left side to 144 degrees South-Southeast. Fights toward the N-NW are seen by 324 degrees toward the right side of the bar. Showing what the sound footprint is for different types of aircraft can be seen by setting the Engine Noise scrollbar to the values shown below.

• Engine Noise - the decibel level measured 450 meters (394ft) from the source (FAA standard). Some original Stage 2 aircraft have been modified for Stage 3 certification. Those which are in both categories are: 747, DC-10, 727, 737, DC-9, and MD 80. Their official sound take off levels run from 100 dBEPN(Effective Perceived Noise) down to about 84 dBEPN depending on whether they are Stage 2 or Stage 3, and their individual configuration. Some Stage 3 "quiet" aircraft are: 757, 72 dBEPN; 767, 82 dBEPN; A320, 71 dBEPN; MD 90-30, 71dBEPN; 737-400, 80 dBEPN; and Canadair RJ/CL600, 67 dBEPN. However, it should be remembered that noise levels on aircraft which are landing are often greater than the take off noise level, sometimes by as much as 15 dB.
• Direction - the flight path specified on a 360-degree compass.
• Climb - the plane's rate of climb in degrees. (Altitude is reported here during a flight.)
• Speed - the plane's airspeed in miles per hour (aircraft normally use knots instead of mph).

Another scrollbar - the Time Multiplier - adjusts the extent to which the simulation is faster than life. The pace can be set at real time by selecting a 1:1 multiplier.

Results are approximate since additional factors (like weather and sound frequency) affect how noise travels. Nevertheless the simulator provides insights concerning airplane noise, and what remedies would be most effective at a particular location.

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This interactive aircraft noise simulator comes to you courtesy of Save Our Sky in Indianapolis, IN. If you wish to create an aircraft noise footprint program for your web site, instructions can be found at the SOS web site.