Ground And Flight Tests For The Noise Assessment Of The P2010 Aircraft

F. Marulo, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Italy
C. Caruso, Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM, Capua (CE), Italy
M. Oliva, Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM, Capua (CE), Italy
A. Scaburri, Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM, Capua (CE), Italy

Abstract

The noise certification of a four-seat general aviation airplane, the Tecnam P2010, equipped with both fixed and variable pitch propeller has been accomplished as required by the certification agencies, both EASA and FAA.

During these tests, it was decided to carry on additional measurements, on-ground and inflight, for studying possible devices for external noise mitigation, in order to accomplish specific customer’s request or to facilitate the acceptance of the aircraft in those countries where the imposed noise limits are more stringent than those requested by the airworthiness agencies.

Several tests have been, therefore, carried out evidencing a good correlation between ground and flight testing. Frequency analysis has demonstrated the importance of the propeller noise, the engine noise and the effect of the exhaust. These three elements are, as expected, the main parameters to be controlled for a mitigation of the noise emitted by the aircraft.

Ground tests have been performed around a polar arc, 50 meter radius, considering the ground effect and absorption due to its nature (grass, concrete and so on). Simple modifications to the geometry of the exhaust are slightly evidenced by the measurements and open the way to potential successfull activities toward the noise reduction.

Cut-back procedures, as approved for commercial jet airplanes, have been considered, but safety reasons suggested to consider them unapplicable to this class of airplanes, mainly with reference to the expected skill of the average pilot.