Military Flight Profile Optimizer - 03/03/09

Blue Ridge Research and Consulting (BRRC) was contracted by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division to develop an optimization system for operational flight procedures at military airfields for the purpose of reducing community noise impact.

Background

Current and next generation military high-performance aircraft are generating increasing noise levels and a greater response from communities surrounding active airfields.  And while jet engine noise reduction technologies have been applied successfully to commercial aircraft, these technologies have found limited application to military aircraft - leaving operational flight procedures as the most cost effective near-term solution for reducing noise impact around military airfields.

Approach

This project is being carried out in two phases including the current SBIR Phase I Feasibility Study which demonstrates the feasibility and utility of an optimization system for flight procedures and the Phase II model development stage.  BRRC’s optimization system design integrates a number of key components including aircraft noise models, operational constraints and optimization algorithms for flight procedures which together with a geographic information system will allow military installations to identify flight procedures that minimize noise impact.   

Flight Track Optimimization

Flight Profile Optimization

Sponsor: Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)