Beginning in January 1, 2018, the FAA will require newly designed aircraft to be quieter which will help toward lowering noise around airports and surrounding communities.\u00c2\u00a0 Called \u201cStage 5 Airplane Noise Standards,\u201d this FAA rule ensures that the latest available noise reduction technology is incorporated into new aircraft designs.\u00c2\u00a0 As a result, new airplane type designs in the subsonic jet airplanes and subsonic transport category large airplanes will operate at least 7 decibels (dBs) quieter than airplanes in the current fleet.<\/p>\n
The FAA is committed to reducing aircraft noise through a \u201cbalanced approach\u201d through the reduction of noise at its source (i.e., the aircraft); improved land use planning around airports; and, a wider use of aircraft operating procedures and restrictions that abate noise.<\/p>\n
\u201cReducing aircraft noise is important to the FAA because it\u2019s an important quality of life issue for surrounding airport communities,\u201d said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.\u00c2\u00a0 \u201cWe will continue to do our best through new technologies, procedures, and community engagement to make aircraft operations quieter.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 1975, there were about 200 million people flying in the United States, with about 7 million people exposed to what is considered significant aircraft noise.\u00c2\u00a0 Since then, an FAA study conducted in 2015 showed that the number of people flying in the United States had almost quadrupled yet the number of people exposed to aircraft noise had dropped to around 340,000, or a 94% reduction in aircraft noise exposure.<\/p>\n
The FAA continues to meet its reduction in aircraft noise and other environmental aviation goals through the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program.\u00c2\u00a0 CLEEN is the FAA\u2019s principal Next Generation (NextGen) environmental effort to accelerate the development of new aircraft, engine technologies, and advance sustainable alternative jet fuels.<\/p>\n