WASHINGTON - NASA is initiating plans to test the noise tolerance of people living in areas likely to see the biggest uptick in advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft such as air taxis in an effort to mitigate their effects, John Gallagher reports for Flying. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
20 March 2024 -Electricly-driven turbines used in many AAM designs create quite a bit of noise. While the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) doesn't define the policy for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and other AAM aircraft, it wants to put the technical data into the hands of those that do. The FAA is currently discussing whether or not to include AAM into its existing noise rules.
In the NASA study, which looks to recruit 360 volunteers from low and high-noise areas, people will listen to aircraft sounds during different aspects of flight like takeoff, landing, and cruising, and if and how such noises annoy them.
"The primary research objective of the VANGARD test is to determine if there are statistically significant differences in annoyance between subjects who live in low versus high ambient noise environments, and to determine as a covariate if there is a difference between specific geographical regions," NASA writes in its study abstract. "Subjects will be drawn from low and high ambient noise areas of geographical regions within the United States that are likely to see initial AAM/UAM operations, such as Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York City."
Related: NASA's Advanced Air Mobility mission researches noise
Related: Honeywell-led project OperA aims to bring AAM and autonomous flight to Europe
Related: Boeing self-flying air taxi venture Wisk Aero sets plan for Texas service
Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
