Research Overview

Civil supersonic transport aircraft have ceased operations since the retirement of Concorde’s commercial service in 2003. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) have initiated the process of developing new supersonic noise standard development and emission regulations through flight-test procedures under 49 USC 44714. The development of commercial supersonic aircraft comes at a time when industry stakeholders are looking to reduce flight duration for major routes. OEMs and airlines need to evaluate the operating economics of flying low payload supersonic aircraft and the regulatory inclusion of adopting sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen fuel over the medium-to-long term, owing to the fuel burn parity equivalent of 3 times per passenger, relative to conventional subsonic business-class seat.

Leveraging computational modelling and simulation tools will enable civil supersonic aircraft OEMs to investigate near-, mid-, and far-field pressure distortions and turbulence using geometric acoustics to reduce amplitude and shock rise time in keeping with global noise standards, while neoteric wing structures can improve low- and high-speed stability for improved fuel burn. Commercializing and pricing sustainable aviation fuels and hydrogen-driven electric alternatives present a challenge for manufacturers, operators, and service providers, demanding a sizeable investment in creating viable production pathways, products, and services. While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected air travel demand and supply chains globally, airlines and OEMs must focus on finding cost-efficient strategies and long-term viability for deploying supersonic aircraft, at a time when business sustainability remains at the forefront of operations.