On June 19-20, 2024, the Bao’an Administration Bureau of Shenzhen Municipal Transportation Bureau organized noise testing and evaluation for drones and eVTOLs. This was done in collaboration with the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology and the Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning & Design Research Center Co., Ltd., targeting leading domestic companies such as DJI, Meituan, and EHang.
“Testing the noise of low-altitude aircraft is considered from an environmental perspective, but it is also to meet the airworthiness requirements of the aircraft,” said Jin Yishan, Deputy Director of the Aircraft Airworthiness Research Institute at the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology. He explained that noise data from drone take-off, landing, hovering, and cruising are collected by devices and transmitted to the backend for professional analysis, which will then select a relatively appropriate noise metric.
He also added, “In this test, noise evaluations were conducted for small, medium, and large drones, and the impact of factors such as model and weight on noise levels was analyzed to provide data support for the formulation of high-noise standards for drones,” said Jin Yishan. “Currently, our country already has clear regulations on noise standards for manned aircraft, but there is a lack of relevant standards for drones. Therefore, collecting this data will be useful in the future, providing theoretical support for companies’ development, research, and verification processes, and will play an important role in establishing industry standards. It can effectively improve the standard system for the development of the low-altitude economy and promote high-quality development of the industry.”\
“Drones need to undergo a series of tests to obtain airworthiness certification, and noise testing in different operating conditions is an important part of this. This requires suitable sites and conditions,” said Li Zhenbo, the person in charge of the testing base in Bao’an District. In this test, companies conducted free noise evaluations for drones, and the relevant data will serve as a reference for the design and development of drones, providing valuable data for companies, and also promoting the verification of the low-altitude economy industry.”
“One of the major tasks of Shenzhen’s low-altitude economy is the airworthiness certification of aircraft, especially those over 25 kilograms. A prerequisite for airworthiness certification is a series of tests on the aircraft,” said Tan Chaochen, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Aviation Industry Association. He added, “Bao’an has not only set up a testing base for drones but also leads the nation in noise testing and evaluation.”
Currently, Bao’an District has established 33 eVTOL take-off and landing points. The first phase of the Bao’an District drone system application test base includes two 20-meter diameter rotorcraft drone take-off and landing sites, one 30-meter diameter rotorcraft drone take-off and landing site, a comprehensive service center, and an outdoor charging station. Since its opening on May 6, the base has accommodated test flights and tests from multiple drone companies.
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