Noise assessment during aircraft run-up procedures

• Published in: Aviation, space, and environmental medicine Vol. 70; no. 3 Pt 2; p. A22
• Main Authors: Bento Coelho, J L, Ferreira, A, Serrano, J, Castelo Branco, N A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1999
• Subjects: Aerospace Medicine; Aircraft; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Humans; Military Personnel; Noise, Occupational - adverse effects; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Portugal; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Time Factors; Vibration - adverse effects; Portugal
• ISSN: 0095-6562

A comprehensive noise survey was conducted at Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronautico (OGMA), Alverca, Portugal, and at several Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) bases, as part of an ongoing occupational noise assessment program. The major objectives consisted of measuring and analyzing noise radiated by various types of military aircraft while undergoing maintenance, repair, or testing. Amplitude, frequency, time history and statistical analysis were conducted on noise emitted by aircraft during run-up procedures. Analysis and evaluation used various noise indexes (Leq and Lmax), frequency spectra, and sound pressure time histories for the assessment of noise exposure on the employees during their working life span. The results show a predominance of large pressure amplitudes within the lower frequency bands. This was correlated with long-term clinical observations in these workers. This study corroborates the definition of vibroacoustic disease as a systemic, noise-induced occupational pathology caused by long-term (>10 yr) exposure to large pressure amplitude (> or = 90 dB SPL) and low frequency (< or = 500 Hz) noise.