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• Sources of Aviation Noise
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• What does Noise Affect?
• What to do About Noise?
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• Ongoing Research Efforts
  • Continuous Descent Arrival
  • Future Outlook: A Quieter Airplane Design
  • Are there other metrics that might be useful for analyzing aircraft noise?
• Supplemental Metrics
• Glossary of Terms
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Ongoing and Recent Research Efforts

There are many research efforts being conducted on the effects of aviation noise. These efforts are investigating ways to reduce the effects of noise. This section includes just a few examples of the ongoing research.

Additional research information is available through the following research based websites.

The Partnership for AiR Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction (PARTNER) website presents research that is being conducted by a leading aviation cooperative research organization. PARTNER is an FAA/NASA/Transport Canada-sponsored Center of Excellence. PARTNER fosters breakthrough technological, operational, policy, and workforce advances for the betterment of mobility, economy, national security, and the environment.

NASA is conducting research on subsonic, supersonic and rotary wing aircraft. Additional information on the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics projects can be found at:

• Subsonic Fixed Wing Project
• Subsonic Rotary Wing Project
• The Supersonics Project

Additional information can be found on the

• Transportation Research Board website.
• FAA Environment and Energy Research Office website.

Continuous Descent Arrival

Continuous Descent Arrival involves the continuous, gradual descent of aircraft on a constant slope at low power. Airframe noise is reduced by the delayed deployment of flaps and landing gear until established on final approach. Instead of using the normal step down approach, the CDA would be a constant descent with reduced power all the way to the airport. This can conserve fuel, limit emissions, and reduce noise during the descent when the airplane is closer to the ground. At 1,000 feet, the aircraft’s power is again engaged to land the craft. When permitted by the air traffic control tower, CDA will be used. For more details, see Continuous Descent Approach for additional information on this operation.

Silent Aircraft

Can airplanes be redesigned to be virtually silent? MIT and Cambridge universities are working to create an aircraft that cannot be heard outside the boundaries of airports.

For more details, see Future Outlook: A Quieter Airplane Design

Photo Credit: Ken Plotkin

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