Brüel & Kjær Sound & Vibration has been selected to participate in one of the largest research projects in Europe to date, aimed at developing quieter aircraft. Aircraft noise is a major cause of concern around European airports and a key area of focus for improvement is reduction of the noise at source. The noise research programme, SILENCE(R), was launched earlier this year, with funding from the European Commission. It comprises 51 European companies collaborating over a period of 4 years to validate noise reduction technologies which will enable aircraft to operate more quietly than today's, with up to 6 decibels less noise from 2008.

Brüel & Kjær are participating in the programme, along with aircraft and aero-engine manufacturers including Airbus, Snecma, Rolls-Royce, Dassault and Dornier. Brüel & Kjær are involved in instrumentation and source location techniques for engine testing. Aircraft landings and take-offs at airports generate repeated high peaks of noise and novel concepts to be validated as part of the project include low-noise fans, LP turbines, active control techniques and airframe noise reduction technologies.

Brüel & Kjær Sound & Vibration is the world market leader in sound and vibration measurement analysis. As the noise pollution from air traffic increases, public demands have brought about strict legislation which has made airport noise monitoring compulsory in many countries. Brüel & Kjær has supplied more than 200 airport noise monitoring systems to airports around the world, from New York in the United States to Osaka in Japan. These systems enable flights to be tracked, recorded and the noise replayed as well as providing software to predict noise levels.

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