What can you do about aircraft noise?

While FAA's Aviation Noise Ombudsman is the public liaison for aircraft noise, it's best to first contact the local airport office staff or manager to address concerns about changes in flight patterns, hours of flights in your community, or airport or aircraft noise.



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While FAA's Aviation Noise Ombudsman is the public liaison for aircraft noise, it's best to first contact the local airport office staff or manager to address concerns about changes in flight patterns, hours of flights in your community, or airport or aircraft noise.

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Through the Part 150 process, airport operators may consider a variety of different strategies to reduce noise. Changes in operational procedures such as take-offs or landings or routing flight paths over less noise sensitive areas can lower noise levels.

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Locate the airport to contact with your noise concern . You will need to enter the address where the noise concern occurred to find contact information for airports in the area. If you need further assistance, submit a complaint or inquiry through the FAA Noise Portal.

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In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates airspace, aircraft, pilots, airports, flight procedures and aircraft noise.

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Under longstanding FAA policy, the threshold of significant aircraft noise exposure in residential areas is a Day-Night Average Sound Level of 65 decibels (dB). See the “Aviation Noise Abatement Policy,” issued by the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator in 1976.

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Noise from a plane is caused by two things: by air passing over its airframe, the fuselage and wings, and by the engines.

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The impacts of aircraft noise at night are particularly pronounced. A large scale study around Heathrow Airport found that people living under the flightpath were 10-20% more at risk to stroke and heart disease than those not living under the flight path.

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During the day, when the air is warmer than the ground, noise energy from an airplane staying in the air, so while you can still hear it, it seems quieter. Conversely, at night, when the ground is warmer than the air, the noise is drawn down, making it seem louder.

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Over the past 50 years, aircraft have reduced their noise output by 75% and this progress continues. Today's aircraft entering service have on average, a noise footprint that is 30-50% that of the aircraft they are replacing thanks to new engine and airframe design and technology.

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During the day, when the air is warmer than the ground, noise energy from an airplane staying in the air, so while you can still hear it, it seems quieter. Conversely, at night, when the ground is warmer than the air, the noise is drawn down, making it seem louder.

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Why am I suddenly getting more aircraft overflying my house than previously? Aircraft take off and land into the wind, or with minimal tail wind. As a result, wind direction dictates the selection of runway(s) in use at any time. This in turn determines which flight paths are used.

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