FAA to carry out comprehensive study measuring aircraft noise

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it will carry out a comprehensive study measuring aircraft noise in communities adjacent to 20 U.S. airports.

Within the next three months the FAA will survey residents via post and telephone around selected U.S. airports on their perceptions of aviation noise throughout the course of a year. The FAA states it is the most comprehensive study using a single noise survey ever undertaken in the United States and hoes to finish gathering data by the end of 2016. To preserve the scientific integrity of the study, the FAA cannot disclose which communities will be polled.

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta commented: “The FAA is sensitive to public concerns about aircraft noise. We understand the interest in expediting this research, and we will complete this work as quickly as possible. This Administration takes its responsibility to be responsive to communities’ concerns over air noise seriously. Our work is intended to give the public an opportunity to provide perspective and viewpoints on a very important issue.”

The study agenda was developed through the Airports Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), which is operated by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences. The methodology will be used to determine whether to change the FAA’s current approach, as well as consideration of compatible land uses and justification for federal expenditures for areas that are not compatible with airport noise.