Integration and application of a tool chain for environmental analysis of aircraft flight trajectories

Abstract

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is currently developing a tool chain for the environmental analysis of aircraft flight trajectories. The presented tool chain consists of tools for aerodynamic analysis, engine cycle modelling, flight simulation, and aircraft noise prediction. The aircraft geometry is not modified within the process but provided as an input. The implemented tools come from specialized DLR institutes, are harmonized in input/output format and are integrated into one fully automated analysis process. The PHX ModelCenter framework allows for a DLR-wide accessible server/client architecture. The new tool chain is applicable to evaluate arbitrary three dimensional flight trajectories. The focus of the presented work lies on the environmental analysis and optimization of approach and departure procedures. The predicted ground noise levels are compared to results from a dedicated DLR flyover noise campaign in 2009. A conventional approach, a steep approach, and a new three dimensional approach procedure have been flight tested with DLR’s flying testbed ATTAS. The new procedure is referred to as Helical Noise Abatement Procedure (HeNAP) due to its helix shape. The ground noise measurements confirm the predicted noise concentration and relocation along the steep approach and the HeNAP compared to the conventional approach procedure.