Definitions:

• *dB(A) Leq denotes the time-weighted average of the level of sound in decibels on scale A which is relatable to human hearing. A daytime from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. and a nighttime from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. are considered for time-weighted average.
• “A”, in dB(A) Leq, denotes the frequency weighting in the measurement of noise and corresponds to frequency response characteristics of the human ear (The range of human hearing is 20 Hz to 20 kHz).
• A “decibel” is a unit in which noise is measured.
• Leq: It is the energy mean of the noise level over a specified period.
• Busy Airport - For the purpose of noise management at airports, a busy airport shall be defined as “a civil airport which has more than 50,000 aircraft movements per year (a movement being a take-off or a landing)” excluding those purely for training purposes on light aircraft.
• Take-off – A phase of flight from the application of takeoff power to an altitude of final take-off segment.
• Landing – A phase of flight from the beginning of the landing flare until aircraft exits the landing runway and comes to a stop on the runway, or when power is applied for takeoff in the case of a touch-and-go landing.
• Lmax is unit for aircraft maximum noise level in units dB(A) which is the maximum or peak noise value for aircraft at the monitoring location in accordance with the noise standards notified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for respective airports.
• Other Airports – an airport having more than 15000 but less than 50000 aircraft movement annually
• Proposed Airports – an airport that is not functional yet and is under development. 

     Note:

• Daytime shall mean from 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m and nighttime shall mean from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.
• The above-specified limits shall have a tolerance limit of 10dB (A) Leq.
• The specified limit excludes defence aircraft and aircraft landing and take-off noise from all runways and aircraft engine/ground run-ups, and helipad locations earmarked by Airport Operator for this purpose.
• However, the limit for aircraft noise as Lmax will be notified by the airport operator with the approval of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation at the aircraft noise monitoring locations installed by the airports as mentioned in paragraph 1 of this notification.
• The noise limits specified in above shall replace and supersede the ambient air quality in respect of the noise limits of the following existing zones.
  • Silence
  • Residential and
  • Commercial areas
• As specified in the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 in the areas falling directly under Airport Noise Zone.
• The noise standards within the overall boundary of airports shall be applicable as Industrial Areas i.e. day time 75 dB (A) Leq and nighttime 70 db (A) Leq as per the Noise (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 and shall be measured at different points of airport boundary and then averaged.
• These standards will not be applicable to a civil airport which has less than 15,000 aircraft movement annually

1. (1) For Airports excluding newly proposed airports:

In addition to dB(A) Leq applicable in the ‘airport noise zones’ specified above, Lmax value in dB(A) shall be published by the airport operator with the of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation only for airports having more than 50,000 annual traffic movements. These Lmax values shall be by airlines and to be monitored and communicated by Airport Operator to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. These Lmax values shall be reviewed as and when there is a requirement in future.

1. For Proposed Airports (yet to be operational zed):
   • For any upcoming/New Airports, noise modelling shall be conducted by the airport operators and results should be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change while seeking Environment Clearance under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006
   • The airport operators should also develop an airport noise zone as specified in paragraph 4 and share the same with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the concerned State Development Authority for necessary land use planning around the airport
   • The concerned State / Union Territory Development Authorities should not allow any new residential institutions & commercial facilities and another noise-sensitive area to fall in the airport noise zone area without any noise reduction measures.

2. Compliance of noise levels applicable to the Airport Noise Zone, as specified above, shall lie with the airport operator and be overseen by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

3. Airport operators shall prepare Noise Management Plan for compliance of the Airport Noise Standards.

4. Airport Noise Zones:
   • The Airport Noise Zone area for each Airport shall be defined as Noise Contour for day and night period by the respective Airport Operator on the basis of existing GSR 751 (E), issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Height Restrictions for Safeguarding of Aircraft Operations) Rules, 2015 published on 30th September 2015 as amended from time to time on Height Restriction for Safeguarding of Aircraft Operation considering all approach and departure funnels and Instrument Flight Procedures (i.e. Instrument Approach Procedures, Standard Instrument Departure & Standard Terminal Arrival Route) in consultation with airports Air Navigation Service Provider as per the Master Plan of the Airport. The same shall be approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and displayed on the website of respective Airport Operators. This activity shall be completed within two years from the date of issuance of the final notification.
   • State / Union Territory Development Authorities should take into consideration of Airport Operations requirements in the airport noise zone area for the land use planning around the airport.

5.  Airport Noise Mapping:

Noise mapping for all airports should be carried out as per the requirements specified in the Director General Civil Aviation’s requirements by the airport operators considering future aircraft movement and traffic projections of the airport as per the Master Plan of the Airport. This information to be displayed at at Airports as well as on the website of the respective Airport Operator and State / Union Territory Development Authority

6. Protocol and Measurement Procedure:  

Monitoring protocol and measurements procedure for the airport noise zone displayed on the website of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shall be followed.

7. Development Authorities / Regional Planning Department shall specify provisions for the inclusion of sound resistance in new buildings, facilities, and projects of the residential, institutional, hospital, and commercial facilities in the design, construction, and materials selections for improving the indoor environment under existing building codes and bye-laws for any building constructions coming under airport noise zones.

8. All the Airport, Airline, and Authority shall comply with the requirements specified in the notification within two years from the date of notification.