"Noise is a main pollutant of airports. At present there are two main tools used to manage the impact of airport noise – computer simulated noise contour maps (NCM) and aircraft noise monitoring systems (NMS). Currently both systems have shortcomings. The aim of this research project is to overcome these and improve the accuracy of both systems. NCMs describe the area around the airport affected by a given noise level (allowing the straightforward calculation of the exposed population) while NMSs provide discrete information on the noise level at individual locations near the airport. NCMs rely on noise data extrapolated from aircraft certification tests, which often do not represent accurately the noise encountered on the ground. NMSs overcome this by measuring the actual noise levels. However, NMS data may be influenced by the background noise at measurement sites.The objective of this project is to develop an improved NMS that can supply accurate and timely data to noise simulation software. By combining the two methods, it would be possible to design a comprehensive tool for managing the noise impact of airports. There are three key advantages of the improved NMS: the provision of accurate aircraft sound power data for the entire aircraft trajectory, the removal of background noise influence on measurements, and independence from airport radar systems. This project will place European research on the acoustic impact of airports in a leading position by improving European aircraft noise prediction models. In addition, it will have an economic impact on the industry, allowing European vendors to offer such an enhanced system to airport management entities globally. Finally, it will have an effect on European airport noise policy by providing a reliable method of detecting high noise flyovers. On this basis, the application of noise charges can be properly used as an incentive to follow pre-determined minimum noise flight paths and use quieter aircraft."