BUILDING ACOUSTICS · Volume 13 · Number 2 · 2006 Pages 159 – 172 159 Aircraft Noise Perception and Annoyance at Schools Near Salgado Filho International Airport, Brazil Maria Fernanda de Oliveira Nunes a and Miguel Aloysio Sattler b NORIE/PPGEC, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, a mfonunes@ucs.br; b sattler@ufrgs.br (Received 5 December 2005 and accepted 3 April 2006) ABSTRACT This article presents results of an evaluation of aircraft noise perception and annoyance in schools located in the vicinity of Salgado Filho International Airport, in the city of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. This research is based on indoor and outdoor acoustic measurements, in addition to questionnaires in three schools. The results indicate problems in school performance, resulting from frequent interruption of classroom communication associated with high noise levels. The research also indicates that children aged between 11 and 13 years form the most vulnerable group. 1. INTRODUCTION Currently, the areas inside noise contours at Brazilian airports are managed by the Aeronautics Command, responsible for the approval of new constructions. Based on estimates of noise levels, with the help of software simulation, the requirements for noise insulation of buildings located near to airports were made. At the time of writing, no noise monitoring programs have been developed at Brazilian airports. Therefore, the sound climate of these areas is not known, in contrast to most airports in the developed world. This article presents an evaluation of aircraft noise perception in three schools located near to the local city airport, Salgado Filho International Airport Figure 1. The initial results, obtained at two of these schools [1], have shown significant annoyance that resulted in changes, made by the school staff, in the way spaces were being used. In the present article a third school, located in an area slightly less exposed to noise was also included in the study 2. BRAZILIAN PLAN OF NOISE ZONING In Brazil, the first studies aimed at identifying and exploring solutions for conflicts generated by airport implementation and operation started in the 1970s, being currently under the responsibility of DAC—Department of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Aeronautics. Noise zoning establishes environmental noise restrictions, aircraft operation and land use restrictions. Noise Zoning is a requirement of the aeronautics normative document [2]. Protection areas are established by the plans of Noise zoning