ANIMA project organised a webinar on the topic of aircraft noise to discuss what its return, post-COVID-19, might mean for both the aviation sector and the local communities. We also took a look at how the European Union will adapt its short- and long-term plans in research and transport through the prism of both COVID-19 recovery, as well as the Green Deal. As skies have grown quiet in Europe and beyond due to COVID-19 crisis, there has been an unprecedented period of respite for communities living around airports, which were previously exposed to far higher levels and amounts of noise. While aviation activity could grow again, eventually up to pre-COVID-19 levels, the perception of aviation noise might shift as well. Will noise become even more noticeable or will it a be, to some extent, a symbol of the return to “normality”?   At the same time, the European Parliament advocates for a green and ambitious EU COVID-19 recovery plan with the values of the EU Green Deal at its centre. These values could act as a compass for the COVID-19 recovery of the aviation sector as well – an opportunity for sustainable growth, based on a coherent and transparent approach to noise management and mitigation. In this webinar, we will explore the links between improving the quality of life […]

During the latest ANIMA project meeting held between 9-12 March 2020, the project began its collaboration with the ANNA group (Aircraft Noise Non-Acoustic). The goal of the meeting was to exchange knowledge on noise impact management.

The ANIMA project took on a central role at the Aerospace Europe Conference (AEC2020), making its results available to the research community and beyond. Attendees were able to test the latest versions of the ANIMA tools and to get an overview of aviation noise research efforts at European level. ANIMA also led a session dedicated to noise impacts, where project partners displayed their latest research studies.

A large part of annoyance due to aircraft noise is influenced by non-acoustical factors like attitude towards the noise source, trust and perceived fairness (Guski, 1999). Most of these factors can best be impacted with honest, transparent and communication and information. Up to now, communication and information on aircraft noise issues are mostly too technical and complex to be understood by lay residents. Understandable and comprehensible information has to be designed in accordance with the needs and expectations of affected airport residents.