ICAO Aircraft Noise & Quota Count Calculator
Analyze certification noise levels across flyover, lateral, and approach measuring points. Evaluate compliance margins against ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 14 and calculate airport night curfew Quota Count (QC) classifications.
Key Facts
- Calculates Effective Perceived Noise decibels (EPNdB) across flyover, sideline, and approach flight phases.
- Computes London Heathrow (LHR) and European airport Quota Count (QC) classifications from QC/0.25 to QC/16.
- Evaluates compliance margins against ICAO Annex 16 Volume I Chapter 4 and Chapter 14 noise standards.
- Enables head-to-head acoustic comparisons between next-generation airframes and legacy aircraft.
1. Select Aircraft to Evaluate
Certified Acoustic Profile
2. Acoustic & Quota Ratings
Airport Night Curfew Operational Feasibility
ICAO Annex 16 Fleet Noise Benchmarks
Certified noise measurements across standard atmospheric conditions (25 deg C, 70% relative humidity, sea level).
| Aircraft Type | Powerplant | Lateral (EPNdB) | Flyover (EPNdB) | Approach (EPNdB) | Departure QC | Arrival QC | ICAO Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A220-300 | PW1524G GTF | 81.4 | 79.6 | 90.2 | QC/0.25 | QC/1 | Chapter 14 |
| Airbus A321neo | CFM LEAP-1A32 | 84.8 | 82.3 | 93.1 | QC/0.5 | QC/1 | Chapter 14 |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | CFM LEAP-1B28 | 85.4 | 83.1 | 93.5 | QC/0.5 | QC/1 | Chapter 14 |
| Boeing 787-9 | GEnx-1B70 | 88.6 | 85.9 | 95.2 | QC/1 | QC/2 | Chapter 14 |
| Airbus A350-900 | Trent XWB-84 | 88.2 | 85.4 | 94.7 | QC/1 | QC/2 | Chapter 14 |
| Boeing 757-200 | RB211-535E4 | 92.4 | 89.1 | 98.4 | QC/2 | QC/4 | Chapter 4 |
| Boeing 777-300ER | GE90-115B | 94.1 | 91.8 | 99.3 | QC/2 | QC/4 | Chapter 4 |
| Boeing 747-400 | CF6-80C2B1F | 97.6 | 95.4 | 103.2 | QC/4 | QC/8 | Chapter 3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Effective Perceived Noise Level in decibels (EPNdB)?
EPNdB is the international metric defined in ICAO Annex 16 for quantifying aircraft noise during certification. It accounts for spectral frequency content, pure tones, and sound duration as perceived by the human ear on the ground.
How is an airport Quota Count (QC) calculated?
The Quota Count formula is QC = 2^((EPNdB - 90) / 10). Aircraft are grouped into bands such as QC/0.25 (below 84 EPNdB), QC/0.5 (84-86.9 EPNdB), QC/1 (87-89.9 EPNdB), QC/2 (90-92.9 EPNdB), QC/4 (93-95.9 EPNdB), up to QC/16.
What is the difference between ICAO Chapter 4 and Chapter 14?
Chapter 4 entered into force in 2006 requiring a 10 EPNdB cumulative margin over Chapter 3. Chapter 14 entered into force in 2017 requiring an additional 7 EPNdB margin (17 EPNdB cumulative reduction below Chapter 3 limits).
Why are night curfews tied to aircraft Quota Count ratings?
Airports like London Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Zurich establish seasonal night noise budgets. Airlines are charged noise quotas per movement, and aircraft with QC/4 or higher are typically banned from night scheduling.