EASA Proposes VTOL Noise Certification Rule in NPA 2025-03

(EUROPEAN UNION) The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has proposed the first full set of VTOL noise certification rules for Europe, releasing Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) 2025-03 on August 22, 2025. The draft rule targets Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, including electric models often called eVTOL, and opens a formal path to measure and limit noise from these aircraft consistently across the European Union. EASA set a public comment deadline of November 21, 2025, inviting manufacturers, national aviation authorities, city planners, operators, and the general public to weigh in before the rules are finalized.

Why this proposal matters

At the heart of NPA 2025-03 is a simple idea with wide implications: if urban air mobility is going to work, communities need clear, fair noise limits that reflect how VTOL aircraft actually fly. Current global rules (including ICAO Annex 16) focus on airplanes and helicopters and do not cover the unique, close-to-the-ground flight profile of VTOL vehicles.

EASA’s proposal aims to:
– Give cities and planners consistent noise values to use when siting vertiports near homes, hospitals, and schools.
– Provide manufacturers with one clear standard to design against, avoiding a patchwork of local rules.
– Improve predictability for operators, residents, and authorities.

“Noise is a top public concern for urban air mobility,” EASA Acting Executive Director Luc Tytgat emphasized in briefings. That concern shapes the draft’s focus on consistent limits, wider flight-phase testing, and certified noise data for local planning.

Key features of NPA 2025-03

• Noise measurement phases: approach, take-off, overflight, and hover — with methods tailored to VTOL operations near vertiports.
• Identical maximum noise levels for all VTOL designs during critical phases to ensure a level playing field.
• Published certified noise levels that manufacturers must provide for use in approvals and land-use planning.
• Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM) to help manufacturers and national authorities apply the rules consistently.
• Creation of a delegated act and amendment to Annex I (Part 21) to integrate noise requirements into the EU certification framework.

Technical and industry context

The proposal follows months of technical work and discussions with manufacturers and national authorities. Industry players such as Volocopter and Lilium engaged with EASA on fair testing for different designs, especially for hover and near-vertiport phases. Environmental groups also monitored the work, urging strong protections and checks that show real-world benefits beyond prototype flights.

• The new tests reflect that VTOL aircraft may spend more time close to built-up areas — lifting off, hovering, and landing — which makes noise more noticeable than high-altitude jet noise.
• The draft does not mandate specific technologies: it sets outcomes and leaves engineering choices (rotor size, blade shape, propeller tip speed, etc.) to manufacturers.

Who is affected and how

Manufacturers:
– Will need to design and test to meet a single set of noise thresholds.
– May alter rotor geometry, blade tip speed, or flight-control software to meet limits.
– Benefit from designing once for Europe instead of customizing for many local rules.

Operators:
– Will require certified noise levels to gain operational approval.
– Will use noise certifications in route planning and fleet choices (choosing quieter aircraft near homes, for example).

Local authorities:
– Can use certified noise data for land-use planning: vertiport siting, hours of operation, approved paths.
– Gain consistent numbers across the EU that simplify cross-border route approvals.

Residents and community groups:
– Can review published certified values to compare expected noise with what they experience.
– Can use data to advocate for vertiport siting, operational hours, and mitigation measures.

National aviation authorities:
– Will use AMC and GM to guide review procedures and reduce confusion and rework across different countries.

Benefits of uniform rules

Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that uniform noise rules can:
– Prevent a patchwork of local limits that slow rollout and create confusion.
– Help projects move more smoothly when planners and residents share common expectations.
– Be especially valuable near critical services (hospitals, emergency services) where VTOL use may be highly beneficial but noise must be controlled.

Implementation sequence

EASA outlined a clear sequence:
1. Publication of NPA 2025-03 on August 22, 2025.
2. Public comment period open until November 21, 2025, via the EASA Comment Response Tool.
3. EASA review of feedback and preparation of the final delegated act and amendment to Annex I (Part 21).
4. Implementation, after adoption, for manufacturers and operators seeking type certification and operational approval.

All parties can follow updates and find official documents on the EASA website at the following link: https://www.easa.eu. That page hosts regulatory material and contact details, including a dedicated noise certification email address for technical questions.

What stakeholders are saying

• Industry groups: Support a common EU standard and testing across several flight phases; request flexibility for different propulsion concepts (distributed fans, tiltrotors, etc.).
• Environmental groups: Urge strict thresholds to ensure community acceptance keeps pace with fleet growth.
• Both sides: Agree that clear, published data will aid city councils and residents in making informed choices.

The proposal also emphasizes fairness: setting the same maximum allowable noise levels for key phases prevents an advantage for louder designs and reduces disputes over measurement methods.

Practical implications for planning and daily life

With certified noise data:
– Cities can map noise footprints and choose approach/departure paths over less populated areas (roads, rivers).
– Authorities can set operating hours that protect quiet times (e.g., nighttime).
– Operators can align fleet deployment with route sensitivity (quieter models near homes).
– Manufacturers can evaluate trade-offs (range, payload vs. noise control) with a single European target.

For families near vertiports, the result could be less stress and clearer expectations. For industry, it reduces regulatory risk and supports investment and development.

Ongoing process and future updates

EASA will review all comments submitted by the deadline and adjust the draft where appropriate. The agency expects further technical updates as the VTOL sector matures and more certification data becomes available. EASA will continue collaborating with other regulators (including the FAA) to keep standards reasonably aligned while maintaining Europe’s environmental goals.

How stakeholders should prepare

• Manufacturers: Review AMC and GM; test current designs against proposed flight-phase methods.
• Operators: Assess how certified noise values affect route planning and fleet strategy.
• Local authorities: Consider how to incorporate published methodology and data into land-use planning (noise maps, zoning).
• Community groups: Plan to review published data and engage in local planning discussions on sites and hours.

Key deadlines and takeaways

• NPA 2025-03 published: August 22, 2025.
• Public comment deadline: November 21, 2025.
• The draft enables consistent noise certification values that cities and national authorities can use to manage vertiport siting, routes, and hours.
• The proposal does not itself set local operational curfews; it provides certified noise metrics for local rulemaking.

Noise rules are not just about decibels; they are about trust. NPA 2025-03 aims to build that trust by focusing on the moments when sound matters most: when VTOL aircraft are close, slow, and visible. If managed well, these rules can help VTOL services grow in a way that respects the people living under the routes.

The months ahead will be busy: manufacturers will run tests, city planners will sketch routes, community groups will prepare questions, and EASA will review comments. By the end of the comment period, Europe may have a more stable framework to guide how VTOL aircraft join daily life.