Noise Desk installed at Mumbai airport to reduce sound levels

First-of-its-kind initiative will also help provide air traffic radar surveillance.

THE Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) in Santacruz has installed Noise Desk — a web-based noise-monitoring system — as a measure to identify the noisiest aircraft with an aim to reduce noise levels at the airport and nearby residential areas. Such an initiative has been adopted in an India airport for the first time.

Noise Desk, which helps monitor and manage sound levels, will help assist in implementing noise abatement programmes in the airport. It will also help provide air traffic radar surveillance and connect with other data sources such as flight tracks and weather systems.

This move comes after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator, issued a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) in January 2015 instructing all airports to contain noise. There was an increase in noise levels as a lot of new new airlines have been introduced.

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Elaborating on the recent move, a Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) spokesperson said, “MIAL has successfully set up and implemented a comprehensive noise monitoring system, which is based on the specifications of DGCA and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to analyse aircraft noise impact on communities. It is simple to use and seamlessly connects with other data sources such as flight tracks and weather systems.”

“The innovative web-based subscription system cost-effectively processes infringements, noise complaints, background noise and aircraft and community noise events. When a loud event occurs or a complaint is received, one push of a button presents information about the most likely cause of the disturbance and enables the airport to promptly respond to issues and transparently share information about the occurrence. Data can be replayed to review historical information,” the spokesperson added.

Brüel & Kjær’s Operations Centre is responsible for the system’s data integrity and equipment maintenance.With continuous data on aircraft and airport sound levels through the system, officials claimed they were able to easily assess whether the airport is maintaining acceptable noise levels within its airspace.

The airport manages more than 750 aircraft movements daily. It handles more than 40 passenger airlines and 15 freight airlines flying to 45 international destinations.

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