Measurement of aircraft noise in a high background noise environment using a microphone array

This paper examines sound level meter errors when measuring direct fly-over aircraft noise in presence of background noise. Since the meter is unable to separate aircraft noise from background noise, an array of 12 microphones is used to measure direct aircraft noise avoiding the effect of the ground reflections and urban background noise. Using this technique, aircraft noise can be separated from the background noise providing a reference value of the aircraft sound pressure level for the sound level meter measurement. Measurement is carried out using both a sound level meter and the array in an urban environment with high background noise level near Barcelona Airport. Finally, the experimental measurement errors of the sound meter are within 1 dB of the theoretical values.

► Twelve microphones measure aircraft noise avoiding the effects of ground reflections and urban background noise.
► Using an array of microphones, aircraft noise can be measured even with 4 dB background noise.
► The experimental measurement errors of the sound meter are within 1 dB of the theoretical values.