On Estimating Noisiness of Aircraft Sounds

Published results of judgment tests that have been cited [K. D. Kryter, J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 43, 344–361 (1968)] in support of calculated perceived noise level as the most accurate predictor of the “noisiness” of aircraft noise have been reanalyzed with small corrections known to be appropriate for the measuring instruments used. Application of standard statistical procedures indicates that the minor differences among A‐weighted sound level, calculated loudness level, calculated perceived noise level, and D‐ (formerly N‐) weighted level, in their correlation with judged noisiness, are not statistically significant. Only the B and C levels are clearly inferior as predictors of noisiness.