Concorde – Supersonic Flight and Noise Abatement

The Irish Branch of the Institute of Acoustics invites you to a one-hour online talk by former Concorde pilot Mr. John Tye.

In this talk, John will cover:

• Noise-abatement procedures used during Concorde operations, with particular focus on departures and approaches into London Heathrow and JFK.
• The activities of anti-noise Concorde groups and the challenges the aircraft faced in achieving public acceptance due to its unique acoustic footprint.
• Insights into the era of supersonic commercial flight, including Concorde’s routine operation at speeds of Mach 2 - a technological milestone first realised in 1969, the year Concorde first flew. It’s remarkable that over 56 years later, commercial passenger aircraft still fly exclusively at subsonic speeds.
• Concorde’s distinctive engineering innovations, including engine intake systems, converging/diverging engine nozzles, and other design features that made it a true aviation marvel.

Concorde, one of aviation’s most iconic aircraft, is as famous for its noise as it is for its speed. In its early years it faced:

• Residential opposition to flights
• Advocacy from anti-noise groups
• Stringent noise abatement regulations requiring subsonic flight over land and supersonic only over water.

The main opposition to the Concorde supersonic airliner came from the Anti-Concorde Project, founded by environmental activist Richard Wiggs, which became the most influential critic of the aircraft. Additional resistance formed in the United States through groups such as the Citizens’ League Against the Sonic Boom, as well as several local protest organizations. Notably, activists in New York disrupted flights and picketed airports. These groups shared concerns about noise pollution, environmental harm, operational costs, and the risks posed by sonic booms.

Despite these early concerns and campaigns, Concorde went on to become a tremendous success, both commercially and technically, and remained in service for over 27 years.

Event Details:

• 4 March 2026 from 13:00hrs to 14:00hrs (please join at 12:50hrs).
• Speaker: Mr. John Tye, former Concorde pilot
• Format: Online, one-hour session (45mins talk and 15mins Q&A on Zoom)
• Moderator: Diarmuid Keaney, Chair of the Irish Branch
• Invitees: Irish Branch and IOA UK and worldwide.
• Registration on CPD Tag: https://www.cpdtag.com/app.php?event=92E3225160C5BAF86FB2E9E726D
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The Irish Branch of the Institute of Acoustics is proud to host this event, which will provide an insider’s perspective on the acoustical considerations of Concorde.