FAA & NPS Progress Update Y2Q4

International Leadership

As a global leader, the FAA works with international organizations to promote aviation safety and efficiency for the worldwide alignment of technologies, policies, regulations, and standards. In collaboration with partners around the world, the FAA's work plays an essential role in resolving current challenges to global aviation and forging the future direction of the industry.

Office of Environment and Energy

FAA’s Office of Environment and Energy (AEE) is a team of aviation professionals working with aviation stakeholders to make air transportation quieter, cleaner and more efficient. The mission of AEE is achieved using an integrated strategy and portfolio of activities and programs.

Mission

To understand, manage, and reduce the environmental impacts of the aerospace system through research, technological innovation, policy, collaboration, and engagement to benefit the public.

Vision

Advance a quieter, cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable aviation system.

Environmental Protection to Enable Increased Mobility

What We Do

We develop, recommend, and coordinate national and international standards, policy and guidance, research and studies, and analytical capabilities on aviation environmental and energy matters.

• Research & Development
• Technology and Operations
• Policy & Guidance
• Noise
• Emissions
• Energy
• National Parks Air Tour Management Program
• Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation

Contact Us

Federal Aviation Administration
AEE-1
800 Independence Ave SW, Suite 900W
Washington, DC 20591

Technology and Operations

Through the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) program and the Aviation Sustainability Center (ASCENT), the FAA’s Center of Excellence (COE) for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment, the FAA is supporting Research and Development (R&D) to of new aircraft and engine technologies. Technologies developed by these programs will result in a fleet of aircraft that have lower noise, use less fuel, and produce fewer emissions. ASCENT also...

Emissions

The FAA Environment and Energy Emissions Division, AEE-300, supports AEE’s vision to remove environmental constraints on aviation growth by achieving quiet and efficient air transportation. The E&E Emissions Division portfolio is supporting this vision through a broad range of efforts to develop research and policy regarding aircraft emissions mitigation, characterization, and certification. 

Learn more about the Emissions Division Portfolio:

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Noise

The FAA Office of Environment and Energy Noise Division supports AEE’s vision to remove environmental constraints on aviation growth by achieving quiet, clean, and efficient air transportation. The Noise Division portfolio is supporting this vision through a broad range of efforts to develop research policy regarding aircraft noise certification, impacts, and reduction.

For more information about aviation noise and our noise-related programs, visit the pages below.

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Research and Development

The Environment and Energy (E&E) Research and Development (R&D) Portfolio supports AEE’s vision to remove environmental constraints on aviation growth by achieving quiet, clean, and efficient air transportation. The E&E R&D Portfolio is supporting this vision through a broad range of programs wherein the FAA partners with industry, academia, and other governmental agencies. These programs are not only providing the aviation community with improved knowledge of the...

ICAO Airplane CO2 Certification Database

The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Airplane CO₂ Certification Database (CO₂DB) contains information on airplane CO₂ emissions, determined according to the procedures in ICAO Annex 16, Volume III, and where noted, certified by the States of Design of the airplanes according to their national regulations. 

FAA & NPS Progress Update Y2Q3

Scientific Knowledge to Inform Decision Making

The Environment & Energy (E&E) Research and Development (R&D) Portfolio is producing data and knowledge that are the scientific and technical foundation for decision making and the development of mitigation approaches for aviation noise and emissions.

The E&E R&D Portfolio is advancing our understanding of the impacts of aviation noise on community annoyance, sleep, health, and children’s learning. It is also advancing our understanding of aircraft emissions and their impacts on air quality, the global climate, and the ozone layer. The E&E R&D Portfolio has a focus on the particulate matter emissions from aviation. 

International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP)

Technologies that reduce noise and emissions are regulated as a part of type certification. These environmental standards are harmonized internationally through the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). A significant portion of the E&E R&D Portfolio is devoted to informing decision making at ICAO CAEP to ensure that effective standards are developed.

Noise Research

The E&E R&D Portfolio also supports noise measurements of new entrants to aid in the development of airworthiness noise certification requirements. The E&E R&D Portfolio, in close collaboration with industry, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and international partners through ICAO CAEP, is providing the technical basis for a review and possible modification of existing regulations to enable the development and growth of supersonic air transportation. Efforts under this Portfolio will also help the FAA understand the noise that is generated by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles, which are sometimes referred to as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. These activities will provide the foundation the FAA requires to address certification and standards for noise before these vehicles enter service as well as to develop operational procedures concepts that could reduce their noise. This work will help ensure that FAA has adequate information to establish any needed environmental policy regarding the certification and operation of these aircraft.