Twente Airport as a test location for quiet aviation innovation

Quiet aviation innovation is essential to reduce aircraft noise pollution in the surrounding areas. In the pursuit of quieter aircraft, field sound measurement plays a crucial role. Researchers from the University of Twente are, therefore, developing a sound testing setup and have successfully tested it at Twente Airport. Based on these sound measurements, new and existing aircraft designs can be tested, and sound prediction models can be validated. This helps minimize the impact of aircraft noise on the environment. The Robotics and Mechatronics Group (UT-RAM) and the Engineering Fluid Dynamics Group (UT-EFD) at the University of Twente conducted the first successful sound measurements in collaboration with the innovation cluster for unmanned systems, Space53, located at Technology Base. Using a microphone array, they quantified the acoustic emissions of an unmanned aircraft, or drone, during various flight maneuvers.