New NASA research has investigated how people respond to air taxi noise, revealing that residents in noisy urban areas reported being more bothered by simulated air taxi sounds than those living in quieter suburban settings. The study, part of NASA’s efforts to enable new air transportation options while ensuring community integration, focused on understanding public reaction to unfamiliar aircraft sounds.
From late August through September 2025, 359 participants in the Los Angeles, New York City, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas took part in NASA’s Varied Advanced Air Mobility Noise and Geographic Area Response Difference (VANGARD) test. Researchers played 67 unique sounds simulating aircraft, including NASA-owned industry concept designs, while withholding manufacturer names and aircraft images to ensure unbiased feedback.
Sidd Krishnamurthy, lead researcher at NASA’s Langley Research Center, stated that with air taxis coming soon, it is necessary to understand how people will react to a variety of future aircraft sounds. He noted that the test filled a critical gap, and its results will improve how human reactions to noise are predicted, guiding the design and operation of future aircraft.
Participants listened to individual aircraft flyover sounds and rated their annoyance levels. They also provided zip codes, allowing researchers to sort locations into high and low background noise zones. Most participants listened from their home locations using their own audio devices, while a control group of 20 people listened in-person at NASA Langley using tablets and headphones with fixed audio settings. The control group responded similarly to those who tested from home.
Initial results indicate that residents in loud environments may be more sensitive to additional noise. The VANGARD team continues analyzing the data to better understand these findings. The results will guide the design and operation of future advanced air mobility aircraft, helping designers and regulators determine how and where these aircraft may fly. The research was led under the Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology project within NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.
