Key Benefits:
Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing,
In view of the convention on international civil aviation, signed in Chicago on 7 December 1944, published by Decree No. 47-974 of 31 May 1947, together with the protocols that amended it, including the protocol of 24 September 1968 concerning the authentic trilingual text of the said Convention, published by the Decree No. 69-1158 of 18 December 1969 ;
Considering the transport code;
Considering the Civil Aviation Code, including its article R. 133-2;
Having regard to the Order of 19 February 1987 concerning the categories of aircraft subject to the requirement of nuisance limitation certificates;
Considering the amended decision of 23 September 1998 on motorized ultralight aircraft,
Stop it!
Motorized ultralight aircraft (hereinafter referred to as ULM) are exempt from the possession of a nuisance limitation certificate if they meet the requirements of this Order.
For any ULM, a measurement of the noise emitted shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure described in paragraph 4 of the Appendix to this Order. For mass-produced ULMs, the result of this measure is attached to the manufacturer's technical file.
Any ULM, other than take-off and landing manoeuvres and authorized razing flights, does not emit a noise such as the measured sound level, in accordance with the procedure described in paragraph 5 of the Appendix to this Order, greater than 65 dB(A).
Noise measurements made prior to the date of application of this Order in accordance with the previous regulations shall meet the requirements of this Order.
The 17 June 1986 decision on the noise emitted by ultralight motorized aircraft (ULM) is repealed.
The Director of Civil Aviation Security is responsible for the execution of this Order, which will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
A N N E X E
1. Definitions and method of parameter assessment
The aircraft's noise assessment is characterized by the maximum acoustic pressure level, LAmax, with frequent A weighting and S time weighting (low). The measured noise level is named Lm.
The height assessment of the aircraft may be carried out by means of a photographic device attached to a tripod at 1.2 metres high and rigorously oriented vertically to the sky.
A photograph is taken at the aircraft crossing to the measuring point. The passage height is calculated according to the device's focal length, by comparison of a measured dimension on the photograph (scale, wheel deviation, etc.) with the corresponding actual dimension.
The accuracy of the height measurement depends here, mainly, on the accuracy of the measured dimension on the photograph.
This height is noted H and expressed in meters.
Note. ― This height is achieved by the formula:
H = focal * size_real * magnification_photo + 1.2
H = focal point * size_photo The wind speed assessment will be carried out using an anemometer.
This speed is rated V and expressed in meters per second.
2. Acoustic measuring apparatus
The characteristics of the sonometer conform to the Class 1 specifications provided in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) publication No. 61672-1.
3. Measurement conditions
3.1. Test environment
The noise measurement point is surrounded by a relatively flat terrain, with no excessive absorption characteristics of the sound such as those that can cause dense grass, high herbs, brushes or wood.
There is no obstacle that significantly affects the sound field within a radius of 50 metres around the measuring point.
The tests are carried out in the absence of precipitation, with a temperature greater than 0 °C, and an average wind speed not exceeding 3 meters per second during the measurement.
These parameters are estimated at a height between 1.2 metres and 10 metres above the ground.
3.2. Metrological equipment
A functional control of the measuring chain such as that of the microphone fixation on the sonometer is provided before each set of measurements.
Before and after each series of measurements the sonometer is calibrated using a class 1 gauge; the distance read between the span before the measurement series and the span after it is less than 0.5 dB.
During acoustic measurements, the microphone is fixed on a tripod at a height of about 1.2 metres and directed to the aircraft.
It is recommended to use an anti-vent ball attached to the microphone to reduce wind effects on the acoustic measurement.
For wind speed measurements, the anemometer is located about 1.2 meters from the ground. It is installed at least 2 metres from the microphone outside of any obstacle that could mask the wind.
The ground wind velocity measurement is calculated at ± 10%.
3.3. Parasite noise
In order to get rid of parasites noises, a noise level measurement without the operation of the ULM is performed in dB(A), before or after the ULM noise measurement.
The ULM noise level measurement is valid only if the deviation between the noise level without the operation of the aircraft and the noise level with the operation of the aircraft is at least 10 dB(A).
4. Noise measurement in specified conditions
4.1. Class 1 to 5
4.1.1. Flight procedure
The measurement is made:
- in the take-off phase;
- at maximum takeoff weight;
- at maximum engine speed.
This procedure includes:
a fixed point;
- a roll;
– a takeoff at the best rate of climb.
4.1.2. Measurement procedure
The acoustic measuring point is located at a ground distance of 300 metres from the fixed point on the take-off path. This distance is known to ± 10 meters.
The aircraft overflew the measuring point at a height H.
The maximum level of acoustic pressure, Lm, is raised.
4.2. Class 6 ULM
4.2.1. Flight procedure
The measurement is made:
- in level flight, cruise configuration;
- at maximum takeoff weight;
– at a stabilized speed of 0.9*Vh, Vh being the maximum level speed at maximum continuous power.
This procedure includes:
– a return trip, wind up and wind back.
4.2.2. Measurement procedure
The aircraft overflew the acoustic measuring point at a height of 150 metres known with a precision of ± 30 metres.
Two successive measures, a standing wind and a rear wind, are carried out.
For each measurement, the maximum level of acoustic pressure is increased.
The acoustic level Lm is the arithmetic mean of the two previously cited sound levels.
4.3. Use of measurement
The measured noise level, Lm, is corrected by a factor depending on wind speed according to the formula:
You can consult the table in the
JOn° 60 of 10/03/2012 text number 5
Where:
V is the measured wind speed in meters per second;
Lr is the reference noise level of the aircraft.
The noise level seen on the ground decreases depending on the aircraft's overflight height as follows:
You can consult the table in the
JOn° 60 of 10/03/2012 text number 5
Where:
h is the height of the aircraft;
H is the height of the aircraft raised during measurements;
Lh is the noise level of the aircraft perceived on the ground when it flies at a height h.
The minimum cruising height h is then calculated so that Lh is equal to 65 dB(A) according to the formula:
You can consult the table in the
JOn° 60 of 10/03/2012 text number 5
4.4. Measurement report
and manufacturer ' s technical record
All measured and calculated parameters (Lm, H, V, Lr and h) are entered in a report. The latter also states:
the date and location of the measurements;
- the technical characteristics of the aircraft (type, model, engines, rotors, certified maximum mass, maximum engine speed, maximum landing speed...)
- the type of equipment used for measurements;
― the local topography (nature of soil, vegetation...) ;
the nature of atmospheric conditions during measurements;
- noise levels without the operation of the aircraft at the measuring point;
– the various parameters that could have influenced the measurements.
This record is provided in the annex to the technical record.
Any modifications that may affect the acoustic characteristics of the aircraft shall impose new measures in accordance with this Order.
5. Measuring under normal conditions of use
5.1. Measurement procedure
This measure may be carried out during normal use of the ULM by law enforcement officers or an authority designated in section L. 6142-1 of the Transportation Code.
The measures shall be carried out in accordance with paragraph 3 of the schedule to this Order.
The maximum level of acoustic pressure, Lm, is noted during the aircraft's altitude crossing (excluding landing, take-off and authorized razing flights).
5.2. Measurement report
The results of the measures are reflected in a report containing, inter alia:
the date and location of the measurements;
― the type of ULM and the identification marks of the measured device;
- the type of equipment used for measurements;
― the local topography (nature of soil, vegetation...) ;
- atmospheric conditions during measurements;
– noise levels Lm;
- residual noise levels (without aircraft operation) at the measuring point.
Done on 24 February 2012.
For the Minister and by delegation:
Director of Security
Civil Aviation,
F. Rousse
