Aviation Noise in the United States: The FAA's Civil Aviation Noise Policy Review

Abstract

The FAA has long recognized that aircraft noise is a primary and pivotal concern of many stakeholders. Through input received via a Federal Register notice on its noise research portfolio, FAA was encouraged by stakeholders to revise its policy in light of its research findings. In response to this feedback, the FAA initiated a review of the foundational elements of its Noise Policy (noise metrics and noise thresholds), which aims address four key considerations: how the FAA analyzes, explains, and publicly presents changes in noise exposure from aviation activity, how changes to the civil aviation noise policy may better inform agency decision-making, the types of impacts it considers in making decisions, and potential improvements to how the FAA analyzes, explains, and presents changes in exposure to civil aviation noise. This paper will present an overview of the FAA's rationale for and approach to the noise policy review. The paper will conclude with a discussion of the next steps FAA expects to take in the review process.