Today's helicopters need to be improved further with respect to environmental and public acceptance. Helicopters generate external noise, cabin noise and vibration due to the complex nature of their dynamic systems and suffer from NOx emission like other transport systems. It is therefore very essential that the new generation rotorcraft addresses these issues to improve the situation, to make them environmentally friendly and acceptable to the general public. The modern society needs this indispensable system due to its ability to fly medical, rescue and law enforcement missions. These missions require flight profiles close to populated areas. Hence, a number of enhancements appears mandatory.

In detail, the following goals are envisaged:

• External noise levels 10 dB below the current ICAO/JAA rules especially during approach.
• A reduction of fuel consumption up to 20 % for high speed flights.
• Cabin noise levels below 70 dBA similar to airliner cabins for normal cruise flight.
• Cabin vibrations below 0,05 g corresponding to jet smooth ride comfort for the same flight regime.

Because of the large and fast rotating rotor, the non-symmetric rotor flow, the close vicinity of main gearbox and passenger position and the specific requests of engine performance, the targets mentioned above are highly challenging. In order to comply with the research objectives, an extreme high tech initiative is required, enabling European aeronautic industry to hold their own position against international competitors. In order to do so, short and long term objectives are planned targeting the following technology topics:

• Short term objectives:
  Noise abatement flight procedures, cabin noise reduction, engine noise reduction
• Long term objectives:
  Active blade control

The activities envisaged in FRIENDCOPTER are to provide a number of key deliverables. All of these will have undergone intense efficiency testing, mostly by flight tests.