Overview
The GARDEN project - GNSS-based ATM for Rotorcraft to Decrease Emissions and Noise - supported the definition of new flight profiles for rotorcraft to reduce the noise footprint and the gas emissions. Concrete milestones were implemented to address various types of operational and regulatory issues that rotorcraft operators will have to tackle. The GARDEN project brought state-of-the-art expertise in Air Traffic Management to meet the CleanSky JU objectives. A major Air Navigation Service Provider, a National Regulator, two specialised engineering companies, procedure designers, as well as an environmental research and consultancy company, were teamed up to ensure:
- The definition of tailored procedures and low-level routes for rotorcraft,
- The safety and environmental assessment of the new procedures,
- The promotion of these new types of operations through the performance of demonstrations,
- The support of GARDEN experts to the CleanSky JU team in the frame of GRC-5 (Environment-Friendly Flight Path project). Involved in GNSS projects and Air Traffic Management for many years, the Egis Avia Company led the consortium to help making the required breakthrough a reality.
Funding
Results
Executive Summary:
The GARDEN project - GNSS-based ATM for Rotorcraft to Decrease Emissions and Noise - supported the definition of new flight profiles for rotorcraft to reduce the noise footprint. Concrete milestones have been implemented to address various types of operational and regulatory issues that rotorcraft operators have to tackle. The GARDEN project brought state-of-the-art expertise in Air Traffic Management to meet the CleanSky JU objectives. A major Air Navigation Service Provider, a National Regulator, two specialised engineering companies and, procedure designers, permitted to address the following main challenges:
- The definition of tailored procedures and low-level routes for rotorcraft;
- The safety and environmental assessment of the new procedures;
- The promotion of these new types of operations through the performance of demonstrations;
- The support of GARDEN experts to the GRC-5 TP3 (Environment-Friendly Flight Path Project).
The main benefits were related to safety improvement for rotorcraft operations combined with noise minimisation.
Noise minimisation of IFR procedures is the main challenge tackled by the GARDEN project. Indeed, rotorcraft IFR procedures that are considered are related to departures, approaches and low level routes conducted close to the ground and consequently, could disturb local residents if no precaution taken. GARDEN gives high priority in reducing noise footprint by designing flexible rotorcraft specific IFR procedures using steep slope flight profiles and avoiding most noise sensitive urban areas.