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Description
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) platforms exhibit complex aeroacoustic noise that is highly modified by the rotor-blade configuration and operative strategies of the vehicle. The emitted sound has been reported to have complex multi-tonal and broadband noise components with strong directivity. Moreover, those acoustic features are modulated by easy transitional flight manoeuvres and airflow conditions during flight. As a result, the existing noise modelling and assessment tools are not well-suited to these unconventional noise emissions. This scenario limits the accurate assessment and mitigation of AAM noise impacts. This paper outlines ongoing research at the Salford Acoustics Innovation Institute toward the development of an integrated modelling and assessment framework for AAM noise. The framework comprises three core components: (1) Source definition, which integrates experimental measurements and multi-fidelity aeroacoustic predictions into a parametric acoustic source model for representative AAM platforms; (2) Sound propagation, accounting for diffraction, reflection, and atmospheric effects within complex urban geometries using hybrid numerical–analytical methods; and (3) Impact assessment, combining physical noise metrics with perceptual models to estimate human response to AAM noise.Key innovations include the development of parametric noise source definition and the development of simplified sound quality metrics that can be directly coupled with aeroacoustic predictions. These metrics provide a perceptually relevant description of AAM noise, enabling integration of aeroacoustic engineering prediction, the psychoacoustic-based annoyance models and community response. Representative urban AAM operational case studies demonstrate the applicability of the framework.