Leading edge system and method for approach noise reduction

A method of minimizing noise of an aircraft, comprising:

• moving an edge control device to a designated control device position;
• generating a gap command if a gap-command condition occurs and if the edge control device is in the designated control device position;
• and
• automatically commanding a leading edge device from a sealed position to a gapped position responsive, at least in part, to the gap command.

A method of minimizing approach noise of an aircraft, comprising:

• moving an edge control device of an edge control system to a designated control device position;
• positioning an inboard leading edge device and an outboard leading edge device in a sealed position;
• determining, using a flight control computer, an occurrence of a gap-command condition of the aircraft;
• generating, using the flight control computer, a gap command when the gap-command condition occurs;
• and
• automatically commanding, using the edge control system, a device actuation system to extend the outboard leading edge device from the sealed position to a gapped position while retaining the inboard leading edge device in the sealed position upon generation of the gap command.