Conceptual design of new low-noise aircraft

Noise levels generated by aircraft (and rotorcraft) can be assigned to the loudest noise sources of our times. Sound pressure levels close to a jet aircraft engine under take‐off conditions can reach the human threshold of pain with respect to noise. Aircraft ground noise levels comparable to a heavy truck passing by, i.e. maximum levels in the order of 70 to 80 dBA, can still be measured at large distances up to 20 kilometers away from the actual airport premises (FUSSNOTE: website http://inaa.umwelthaus.org/). As a consequence, communities far from the vicinity of an airport can still be subject to significant aircraft noise perception hence annoyance. Long‐term exposure to relevant noise levels can have negative implications on affected people’s health but also have a decreasing effect on property and housing values.