Developing noise standards for future supersonic civil aircraft

Abstract

With renewed interest in civil supersonics, NASA and industry researchers continue to make progress toward enabling quiet civil supersonic aircraft. Gulfstream Aerospace has long been interested in the development of an economically viable supersonic business jet, however many regulatory challenges still remain for routine supersonic operation. Gulfstream's approach includes unrestricted supersonic flight over land to enable the same operational flexibility of its subsonic fleet. The largest technical barrier to achieving this end is mitigating the sonic boom created by flying at cruise speeds greater than Mach 1.2. At present, the United States and many other countries prohibit supersonic flight over land due to the loudness and public annoyance associated with sonic boom noise. In the U.S., the FAA prohibits supersonic flight over land under FAR 91.817. Although the FAA has shown interest in reconsidering its position, the agency supports the noise and emissions standards setting process through the International Civil Aviation Organization and its Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection. Development of future standards for sonic boom noise is a key component to enabling continued investment in civil supersonic research. This paper will outline the steps currently underway to assess the viability of defining low amplitude supersonic signature acceptability.