Strategic noise map 2021 major airport(s) Lden contours

Strategic noise map for important airport(s) in Flanders with more than 50,000 flight movements per year (excl. training flights with light aircraft) according to RL 2002/49/EC. Brussels Airport is the only airport in Flanders that meets the definition of 'major airport' according to Directive 2002/49/EC. The reference year for these data is 2021. The noise map shows the annual average noise emission from flight movements to and from Brussels Airport, expressed in the Lden parameter. The Lden level is a weighted annual average sound pressure level over a 24-hour period, with the evening and night levels having relatively greater weight, which corresponds to the finding that noise pollution is generally experienced as more annoying in the evening and at night. European research shows that an Lden is a relatively good predictor of the extent to which local residents may experience nuisance. The strategic noise map in implementation of RL 2002/49/EC is updated every 5 years. From the strategic noise maps with reference year 2021, a new calculation method was used. This is a new joint European calculation method that is mandatory for all Member States from the mapping round with reference year 2021. Because this calculation method differs from that used in previous mapping rounds, it is not appropriate to compare the results of reference year 2021 with previous editions (2006, 2011 and 2016). After all, it cannot be ruled out that differences in calculated exposure are purely due to the application of this new calculation method and are not a consequence of increased or decreased exposure.