TagCongressional Research Service(1)

Federal regulations mandating quieter aircraft have led to a considerable reduction of aircraft noise exposure over the past few decades. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has estimated that the number of Americans exposed to significant levels of aircraft noise has fallen from 7 million in the 1970s to 430,000 in 2018. Nonetheless, aircraft noise remains a contentious issue in many communities. Congress plays an important role in addressing aircraft noise through legislation and oversight. FAA regulates aviation noise through its standards for certifying new aircraft, management of the air traffic control system consistent with safety standards, and technical and financial assistance to airports for noise reduction planning and mitigation activities. FAA administers two airport noise programs:  Airport Noise Compatibility Planning (14 C.F.R. Part 150) was created by the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (P.L. 96-193). FAA established the “day-night average sound level” (DNL) as the noise metric for describing community noise impacts and identified DNL 65 decibels (dB) as the threshold of significant aircraft noise as well as incompatible residential land use. Part 150 is the primary federal regulation directing planning for aviation noise compatibility on and around airports. Airport participation is voluntary. Participating airports are eligible to receive federal funding for noise planning and abatement and mitigation projects.  Airport Noise and Access Restrictions (14 C.F.R. Part 161) were established under the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508, Title IX, Subtitle D) to limit uncoordinated restrictions on aviation and airport access and…