Reactions of Residents to Long-Term Sonic Boom Noise Environments

A combined social survey and noise measurement program has been completed in 14 communities in two regions of the western United States that have been regularly exposed to sonic booms for many years. A total of 1,573 interviews were completed. Three aspects of the sonic booms are most disturbing: being startled, noticing rattles or vibrations, and being concerned about the possibility of damage from the booms. Sonic boom annoyance is greater than that in a conventional aircraft environment with the same continuous equivalent noise exposure. The reactions in the two study regions differ in severity.