Noise & Emissions
Aircraft engine emissions and airport noise are complex subject matters under study for decades and are still the focus of many research efforts today. Here you will find information about engine emissions, aircraft and airport noise, and who to contact if you have a question, concern, or complaint about noise issues.
Noise Complaints & Safety Concerns
- Noise: contact authorities about aircraft noise
- Low flying aircraft: contact an FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO); you may also wish to review federal rules for minimum safe altitudes
Airport & Aircraft Noise Issues
FAA has developed a variety of programs aimed at increasing the understanding of noise impacts, identifying solutions to reduce those impacts, and educating the public on the issues and our ongoing efforts.
- Noise Quest offers the public a source of information on aviation and airport noise. You will find educational material, publications on noise projects and research, and informational videos.
- NQ Explorer allows you to search for a specific airport and view the latest airport noise contours, if available.
- FAA's research can be found on our Environment and Energy Research & Development page
- Read more about aircraft noise levels & stages
FAA Advisory Circulars on Noise Levels
- Noise Levels for U.S. Certificated and Foreign Aircraft, AC 36-1H
- Estimated Airplane Noise Levels in A-Weighted Decibels, AC 36-3H
Noise Reduction
In 2013, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), agreed to a new global noise reduction standard. The FAA participates in the CAEP meetings and supports this new standard. The most beneficial area of future noise reduction is technology development to reduce source noise.
- FAA's Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) program advances the development of technologies to further reduce noise from aircraft.
- Airport Noise Compatibility Planning Toolkit