Environmental management and reporting is essential for sustainable airport operations. This allows the airport to understand its impact on the local environment and communities, and what can be done to manage and mitigate those potential impacts.

The system Manchester Airport uses is called ANOMS, which stands for Airport Noise and Operations Monitoring System. It is a complex solution featuring both hardware in the form of remote sensors, radar data collectors as well as advanced analytical tools.

ANOMS uses a number of fixed or temporary noise monitors in the local area, these are generally located under or near flight paths. The monitors detect and record the noise levels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to a central system.

You can find out more by watching this video:

Data collection and noise event detection

The system combines data from remote noise monitors deployed in the local community and in proximity to runways and flight paths. These run 24 hours a day 7 days a week, continuously collecting and sending noise data through to ANOMS, creating ‘noise events’ when the noise level rises above the background noise level and meets pre-set thresholds.

Flights are tracked using data direct from Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar systems, in effect it is the same data used by ATC to safety control aircraft in the sky. ANOMS uses this data to record the path flown by the aircraft and by identifying which noise monitors the aircraft flew close to and when. ANOMS then identifies which aircraft generated each of the noise events.

The process is complex and whilst it can identify noise events due to aircraft it can also identify events that were not generated by aircraft. These are known as community events and could be generated by birds, wind, vehicles on a road or even emergency vehicle sirens. In effect, any noise that we could hear on a day-to-day basis that isn’t generated by an aircraft.

By considering the aircraft and community noise, a detailed picture of the local soundscape can be built, allowing the airport to understand the potential impact of operations in the local community.

How the system is used

The ANOMS system is used by different stakeholders in the airport management structure:

• Our Flight Evaluation Unit team can view enquiries, complaints and submissions from the local community. Accessing the detailed data available within ANOMS to respond to the local community. This includes detailed weather and operational data to explore and analyse unusual operations.
• Operations teams can use the detailed reports to assess and continuously improve the airport.
• Management can assess trends, determine performance and provide direction.

In summary, the system allows us to quickly identify and analyse anything anomalous, and also monitor the day to day operations of the airport, presenting reports to aviation stakeholders and the community. The historical data can then be used to plan for the future and improve operations, where possible.

You can find out more by watching this video: