Effects of aircraft cabin noise on passenger comfort

Abstract

The effects of cabin noise on subjective comfort assessments were systematically investigated in order to reveal optimisation potentials for an improved passenger noise acceptance. Two aircraft simulation studies were conducted. An acoustic laboratory test facility provided with loudspeaker systems for realistic sound presentations and an aircraft cabin simulator (Dornier Do 728) with a high degree of ecological validity were used. Subjects were exposed to nine different noise patterns (three noise levels ranging from 66 to 78 dB(A) combined with three different frequency spectra). Regression analysis demonstrated a significant increase of passengers' acceptance with lower noise levels and significant effects of different frequency spectra determined by seat position in the aircraft cabin (front, middle, rear). Acoustic cabin design should therefore consider measures beyond noise level reduction altering noise characteristics to improve passengers' comfort and well-being in the aircraft cabin.

Practitioner Summary: To improve passenger comfort in the aircraft with respect to cabin noise, passengers' reactions to specific noise conditions were systematically investigated. Two laboratory studies showed significant dose-response relationships between sound pressure level and subjective comfort ratings which differed due to the noise at specific seat positions in the aircraft.

Keywords:

• aircraft cabin noise
• comfort
• well-being
• sound pressure level
• frequency spectrum

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by LuFo IV (4th Aviation Research Programme) of the German Ministry of Economics. We would like to thank Uwe Mueller and our other colleagues at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine and the Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology at the German Aerospace Center for their assistance in the experiments.