Helicopter Noise-Is Technology the Answer?

Noise will be reduced substantially for upcoming helicopter generations. User, community, and new regulatory requirements have combined to increase the priority of noise in helicopter design. This presentation summarizes the writer's interpretation of: industry concerns in helicopter noise rulemaking, some of the technical challanges facing the industry in complying with them, the areas over and above regulatory requirements where work is needed to improve helicopter acceptance from a noise point of view, and some recommendations for developing the technology for noise control with acceptable performance/economic consequences.