On May 14, 2026, our spokesperson Sabine C. Langer from TU Braunschweig presented the paper “Toward acoustics-oriented aircraft design for highly integrated transport aircraft” at the 190th Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Meeting in the session: General Topics in Engineering Acoustics.

Her contribution showcased SynTrac research and highlighted the growing need for a paradigm shift in aviation acoustics: moving beyond conventional “noise abatement” strategies toward a fully acoustics-oriented aircraft design approach. Rather than addressing noise only after a system has been developed, the concept integrates desired acoustic characteristics from the earliest phases of aircraft design and technology assessment which reflects the core of SynTrac´s research paradigm.

A central focus of the presentation was the challenge posed by future highly integrated transport aircraft, particularly concepts featuring tighter integration between engines and airframes to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. While environmental sustainability remains a key driver in aviation research, aircraft noise is increasingly recognized as a major factor influencing passenger and crew well-being, community acceptance, and the competitiveness of future aircraft technologies.

The presentation emphasized that reliable assessments of both external and internal aircraft noise require advanced modelling and simulation frameworks capable of representing the entire “acoustic chain”, from tonal and broadband sound generation at the source, through propagation paths, to the final acoustic immission experienced by humans. Accurate modelling, reliable simulation, and perceptually informed assessment methods were identified as essential prerequisites for enabling acoustics-oriented design within future aircraft development processes.