Lufthansa Retrofitting A320 Family with Noise-Reducing Technology
Oliver Majumdar November 10, 2014
Lufthansa is in the process of modifying its fleet of A320 series aircraft with noise-reducing innovations.
After taking delivery of the first Airbus A320 line fitted with the simple, yet innovative, noise-reducing vortex generators earlier this year, Lufthansa is beginning to retrofit its fleet of more than 150 A320 series aircraft.
As any aviation enthusiast will tell you, every A320 series aircraft emits a signature howling noise while approaching to land. This noise is generated when air flows over an opening on the lower side of the wing, just like blowing air over the mouth of a bottle. The opening draws in and expels air through vents attached to the fuel tank. Air is drawn in through the opening to replace fuel consumed in flight, then expelled through the same opening when the aircraft is refueled.
The installation of a small vortex generator just in front of the vent opening fixed the howling noise. The device breaks the flow of air just enough to prevent the noise being created, adding minimal drag and without adversely affect the aerodynamics of the wing. Lufthansa expects to complete the modifications to all 157 of its A320 series aircraft by November 2015.
Previously, the howl was accepted as a necessary evil of aircraft operation, and noise-reduction innovations focused primarily on the main noise generators: the engines and the flaps on the wings. Air France, for example, aimed to reduce engine noise by fitting chevrons into the core exhaust nozzle of their A320 series CFM engines.
Airlines are under pressure to reduce noise levels at airports, as residents in the vicinity are reacting negatively to the increased traffic. To help ease noise levels, Lufthansa is planning to implement hybrid tow trucks that reduce fuel burn and noise while aircraft are taxiing. The carrier is also modifying its takeoff procedures by changing the way thrust and flaps are used at noisy airports.
[Photo: Lufthansa]
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Of course, aircraft manufacturers are constantly trying to solve the noise issue inside the aircraft. It can be solved by noise insulation, but none of the carriers accept the additional weight.
Interesting... I fly a lot and now have ringing in my ears, partly because the noise of the aircraft, and partly because I would turn up the volume on my headset to hear... This all stopped once I got some noise cancelling headphones, but has anyone done studies on the "normal" ambient noise in most aircraft?