Tough regulations governing take-off noise, sonic boom suppression and high-altitude emissions are likely to present major challenges for manufacturers attempting to produce supersonic business jets, warn UKregulators.
Robert Gardner, air quality and environmental director at the UK's Department for Transport, says work began in March at the International Civil Aviation Organisation to define the certification requirements for future supersonic aircraft.
Gardner says: "Any supersonic business jet will have to meet the noise requirements of Chapter 4, eliminate sonic boom and control emissions in the sensitive ozone layer." The ICAO working group studying the certification of supersonic aircraft is expected to publish its conclusions by the second quarter of next year, he adds. These findings will set a framework for acceptable limits on noise and pollution and will be put to the industry for consultation.
Aside from military studies, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation would only participate in development of a supersonic business jet within a collaborative venture, as the "task is too great for any one airframer", says chief executive Charles Edelstenne. Gulfstream also says a future supersonic programme would have to involve a consortium.
Edelstenne admits work is still at the early research phase, as sonic boom reduction measures have produced a major obstacle to further development.
NASA is close to releasing details of its joint study with Northrop Grumman into boom-shaping technology which could halve the noise profile of the shock wave produced by a small aircraft, says Bill Stine, programmes associate at the US National Business Aviation Association.
Source: Flight International
