FAA Noise Regulations

Introduction

All County owned and operated airports are licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and governed by comprehensive regulations. This section highlights a few of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) pertinent to PBI's noise program are highlighted below. The FARs may be found under Title 14 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. If you're interested in learning more, click on the links below.

Click here for the FAA Advisory Circular/Orders.
Click here for the Policy And Regulatory Division.

Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 (ANCA)

The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 was a pivotal piece of legislation because it recognized the need for a national aviation noise policy. A critical part of the statute was direction to eliminate the use of Stage 2 aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds in the contiguous U.S. after December 31, 1999. The final revision and rules of this act were established in September 1991 as Part 91. Another important element of the noise policy is the Notice and Approval Airport Noise and Access Restrictions, Part 161. This FAR establishes a program for reviewing airport noise and access restrictions on the use of Stage 2 and Stage 3 aircraft.

FAR Part 36

Part 36 sets noise standards that aircraft must meet to obtain type and airworthiness certificates for operation in the U.S. First created in 1977 for application to civil subsonic turbojets and large (over 12,500 pounds) propeller-driven aircraft, the government has subsequently amended the regulation to address civil supersonic aircraft, small propeller aircraft (less than or equal to 12,500 pounds), and helicopters. Measurement results for individual aircraft types are provided in companion Advisory Circulars.

FAR Part 150

This regulation was made in response to the need for national standards to identify noise/land use incompatibilities and develop programs to eliminate them. It was established under the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979.
FAR Part 150 prescribes specific standards and systems for:

  • Measuring noise
  • Estimating cumulative noise exposure using computer models
  • Describing noise exposure (including instantaneous noise levels, single event noise levels, and cumulative exposure)
  • Coordinating noise compatibility program development with local land use planning officials and other interested parties
  • Documenting the analytical process and development of the compatibility program and submitting documentation to the FAA
  • FAA and public review processes FAA approval or disapproval of the submission

FAR Part 161

Part 161 establishes a program for reviewing airport noise and access restrictions on the use of Stage 2 and Stage 3 aircraft. The FAR requires airport proprietors to examine the impacts of a proposed noise or access restriction within an "airport noise study area." In determining whether land use around an airport is compatible with airport noise, an airport proprietor must use the land use compatibility guidelines set forth in FAR Part 150.