NASA Investigates How People Respond To Air Taxi Noise

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NASA recently conducted a study to understand how people in different environments would respond to the sounds of future air taxis. The Varied Advanced Air Mobility Noise and Geographic Area Response Difference (VANGARD) test involved 359 participants in Los Angeles, New York City, and Dallas-Fort Worth who listened to simulated aircraft sounds and rated their annoyance levels. Initial results showed that residents living in noisier areas reported being more bothered by the air taxi sounds than those in quieter areas, suggesting people in loud environments may be more sensitive to additional noise.

Why it matters

As new types of aircraft like air taxis become more common, it's important for NASA to understand how people will react to the unfamiliar sounds overhead. This research will help guide the design and operation of future advanced air mobility aircraft to minimize noise impacts on communities.

The details

The VANGARD test included 67 unique sounds simulating aircraft, including NASA-owned industry concept designs. Participants were not shown images of the aircraft they were hearing to ensure unbiased feedback. A control group of 20 people also listened in-person at NASA Langley using fixed audio settings, and their responses were similar to those who tested from home. The researchers are analyzing the data to better understand why people in noisier areas reported higher annoyance levels, hypothesizing that they may simply be more sensitive to additional noise.

• The VANGARD test was conducted from late August through September 2025.
• The in-person control group testing took place at NASA Langley in June.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The VANGARD team is currently analyzing the data from the study to better understand the findings and how they can be used to inform the design and operation of future advanced air mobility aircraft.