FAA/HAI Helicopter Flight Operations Noise Tests and Initial Results

This paper discusses a noise test program of eight helicopters conducted jointly by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Helicopter Association International. The program emphasized the gathering of helicopter operational noise data and information appropriate to en route and heliport land use planning. The tests are described highlighting the extensive data acquisition systems used and the varied flight operations studied. Noise levels and acoustic directivity characteristics of the eight helicopters are presented for each flight operation. Trends in the data established by these characteristics are used to identify noise abatement operational procedures. Some of the procedures are shown to be applicable to all helicopter types, while others are configuration specific.