New environmental technology: Reducing noise and fuel burn

For a long time, the focus in developing new aircraft types was on performance criteria such as speed, load capacity and range. These criteria continue to be important; however, over the past 30 years further significant criteria have been added. Today, noise reduction is at the top of the aircraft designers' list.

Aircraft noise emissions are particularly disturbing for people living in the airport vicinity. The growing air traffic volume is more likely to be accepted by the affected public, if the individual aircraft are quieter.

Another aspect is costs. With worldwide air traffic liberalization, competition among airlines has increased. As a result, operating and maintenance costs of an aircraft ultimately are the decisive purchasing factors for an airline.

The Airbus A380 represents the best constructive compromise between economic and ecologic requirements in aircraft construction yet. The A380 will be the world's first aircraft with a flight management system that features an integral automatic noise optimization function. The computer tells the pilot what the optimal flight configuration is so that noise impact on the ground is reduced to a minimum during takeoff or landing. In addition, the new engines developed for the A380 are the quietest of their size.

Based on an internationally defined takeoff and landing procedure, Airbus forecasts that the A380 will be at least four decibels quieter than the Boeing 747-400. This equates to a perceived 50 percent reduction in noise levels. In effect, the A380 is so quiet that it can be assigned to noise category four.

Progress is also obvious in terms of costs. Operating costs per seat will be reduced by about 15 percent compared to its forerunner, the B747-400. Fuel consumption per passenger and 100 kilometer flown shall be limited to 3.3 liters, when fully loaded.