Flyover Noise Testing of Commercial Jet Airplanes

Abstract

The flight development and certification programs of new commercial jet transport airplanes include flyover noise testing to define public acceptability of the airplanes. In addition, government noise standards for aircraft-type certification have influenced flight testing procedures for airplane flyover noise testing. Current flight test programs include preliminary, development, survey, certification, and demonstration phases. Flyover noise testing requires extensive and complex techniques and equipment. Specific field and flight data systems utilized include a noise recording array dispersed over a surveyed ground test range, recording stations for the surface weather (continuous) and the sound-path weather (periodic), a tracking facility for the precise continuous recording of the airplane space position, and aircraft instrumentation for recording time-synchronized airplane engine operating parameters. Data processing utilizes advanced techniques that integrate all data components of the test airplane noise system which consist of the source, path, and receivers. Existing test techniques are generally adequate; however, anticipated future aircraft noise characteristics and testing constraints indicate a need for additional development of flyover noise testing techniques.