What are the federal laws governing aircraft noise?

The federal government has a number of laws and regulations in place to protect the public from annoying and potentially dangerous aircraft noise. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the primary responsibility for regulating aircraft noise in the United States. The FAA has set stringent regulations governing aircraft noise. All aircraft must comply with the "Stage 3" noise standards, which limit the amount of noise aircraft engines can emit. Specifically, Stage 3 aircraft must not produce noise greater than 88 EPNdB (effective perceived noise decibels) on takeoff, and no more than 80 EPNdB during approach. Additionally, any aircraft older than 1975 must comply with “hush kits”, which reduces the amount of noise emitted. The FAA also regulates aircraft noise by setting limits on the number of flights an airport can have within the "noise contour" of a residential area. The noise contour is a line on a map that shows where the noise from aircraft is the highest. The FAA will only allow a certain number of aircrafts to fly within this noise contour. In addition, the FAA has set limits on the number of “noise disturbances” any airport can have within a certain period of time. This includes loud takeoffs, engine tests, and other noisy events. Overall, the FAA has strict laws and regulations in place to protect the public from annoying aircraft noise. These laws are designed to reduce the amount of disruptive noise aircraft produce, while still allowing for safe and efficient air travel.

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