Flight testing steep segmented approaches for noise abatement

Abstract

The paper deals with a steeper approach profile to increase altitude of the aircraft during approach. To allow a standard 3° landing and thus a higher rate of applicability the vertical approach profile is divided into 2 segments. It starts at about 8000ft AGL with a 4,5° slope. At about 1500 ft AGL the approach slope transitions into a standard 3° slope, intercepting the glide slope from above. A previous publication [ICNS 2014] already reported about successfully testing this kind of procedure in various fullflight training simulators of TUIfly, Condor and Lufthansa. This contribution will report about first flight trials which took place with a Condor B 767-300 in Frankfurt and a TUIfly B737-800 in Hanover. Results of these flight trials including noise measurements and future activities are presented and discussed.