TagAirports(140)

The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) 2019–2023 is a report to Congress that outlines the federal government's framework for developing and maintaining a national network of airports eligible for federal funding. It covers planned airport infrastructure investments across the United States over a five-year period. While the report addresses airports nationwide, it does not specifically focus on noise policy or Sea-Tac Airport.

This document from the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) 2023-2027 defines the categories and roles of U.S. airports, ranging from large commercial hubs to small general aviation fields, based on criteria such as annual passenger enplanements, flight operations, and cargo weight. It outlines how airports are classified as Primary (Large, Medium, Small Hub, or Nonhub) or Nonprimary (National, Regional, Local, Basic, or Unclassified), and identifies the 3,287 airports that make up the national airport system. The document also details the data sources used by the FAA to determine each airport's classification and role within the system.

Appendix B of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) 2023-2027 provides national and state maps showing the locations of all 3,287 existing NPIAS airports across the United States and its territories, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa. Airports are categorized by type — Large/Medium hub, Small/Nonhub, National/Regional, Local/Basic, and Unclassified — and displayed alongside Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas. Note that this document covers the broader national airport system and does not contain specific noise policy information related to Sea-Tac Airport.

A large study of nearly 75,000 female nurses living near 90 U.S. airports found that those exposed to higher levels of aircraft noise were more likely to have higher body mass index (BMI) and greater weight gain since age 18. Women exposed to the loudest aircraft noise (55 decibels or more) had an 11% higher chance of being obese and a 15% higher chance of falling into the highest category of weight gain compared to those in quieter areas. The findings suggest that chronic aircraft noise exposure — such as that experienced by residents near Sea-Tac Airport — may contribute to obesity risk, potentially through stress-related pathways including disrupted sleep and hormonal changes.