Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Draft Guidance on Airport Noise and Land Use Compatibility Planning
January 13, 2022
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released draft Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5020-1A, “Noise Control and Compatibility Planning for Airports,“ and requested public comment on the document. The draft guidance provides updated information for airports on how to conduct an Airport Noise and Land Use Compatibility Planning Study under 14 C.F.R. Part 150, known as a Part 150 study. The last iteration of this guidance was issued in 1983. FAA has requested feedback on the 210-page draft document no later than February 25, 2022. AAAE will be working with our members to review the draft AC and develop responsive comments before the deadline. 
Highlights from Initial Review. Upon initial review of the draft guidance, there are a few observations that are worth highlighting. 
First, FAA has not proposed any changes to the 65 DNL dB contour standard, which remains applicable to Part 150 airport noise compatibility programs, including determining whether aircraft noise is compatible with residential areas. Since FAA released results from its “Neighborhood Environmental Survey“ (NES) in early 2021, the industry has questioned whether FAA would propose changes to the 65 DNL standard for noise compatibility programs because the NES results demonstrated a substantially higher percentage of people highly annoyed by the entire range of aircraft noise levels in comparison to the last study completed in 1992. AAAE does not expect any changes to this standard in the absent of a formal rulemaking proposal from FAA. 
Second, FAA included a significant number of updates for airport operators in the draft guidance document on Part 150 studies, including, but not limited to, new and/or additional information on:
• Conducting environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to implement proposed noise abatement measures;
• The benefits and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in preparing a Part 150 study;
• The role of Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) in forecasting aircraft activity and developing noise exposure maps;
• The use of the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) for developing standardized noise exposure maps; and
• A series of new noise compatibility program implementation measures that are not as detailed in the 1983 guidance, such as noise abatement measures, preventive land use measures, and remedial land use measures, among others.
What's Next? In the coming weeks, AAAE will be reviewing the document and developing a survey to collect feedback from our members. AAAE will prepare responsive comments for the agency based on the input received before the deadline of February 25, 2022. If you or your airport are interested in submitting your own comments, you can use FAA's comment matrix, which is available here, and submit feedback directly to Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Environmental Specialist, Airport Planning and Environmental Division, at jean.wolfers-lawrence@faa.gov. 
Additional Resources
• FAA AC 150/5020-1, Noise Control and Compatibility Planning for Airports (Currently in Effect) 
• Draft AC 150/5020-1A, Noise Control and Compatibility Planning for Airports (Available for Public Comment) 
• FAA Industry Letter on Draft AC 150/5020-1A 
• FAA Press Release on Draft AC 150/5020-1A 
  
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released draft Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5020-1A, “Noise Control and Compatibility Planning for Airports,“ and requested public comment on the document. The draft guidance provides updated information for airports on how to conduct an Airport Noise and Land Use Compatibility Planning Study under 14 C.F.R. Part 150, known as a Part 150 study. The last iteration of this guidance was issued in 1983. FAA has requested feedback on the 210-page draft document no later than February 25, 2022. AAAE will be working with our members to review the draft AC and develop responsive comments before the deadline. 
Highlights from Initial Review. Upon initial review of the draft guidance, there are a few observations that are worth highlighting. 
First, FAA has not proposed any changes to the 65 DNL dB contour standard, which remains applicable to Part 150 airport noise compatibility programs, including determining whether aircraft noise is compatible with residential areas. Since FAA released results from its “Neighborhood Environmental Survey“ (NES) in early 2021, the industry has questioned whether FAA would propose changes to the 65 DNL standard for noise compatibility programs because the NES results demonstrated a substantially higher percentage of people highly annoyed by the entire range of aircraft noise levels in comparison to the last study completed in 1992. AAAE does not expect any changes to this standard in the absent of a formal rulemaking proposal from FAA. 
Second, FAA included a significant number of updates for airport operators in the draft guidance document on Part 150 studies, including, but not limited to, new and/or additional information on:
• Conducting environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to implement proposed noise abatement measures;
• The benefits and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in preparing a Part 150 study;
• The role of Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) in forecasting aircraft activity and developing noise exposure maps;
• The use of the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) for developing standardized noise exposure maps; and
• A series of new noise compatibility program implementation measures that are not as detailed in the 1983 guidance, such as noise abatement measures, preventive land use measures, and remedial land use measures, among others.
What's Next? In the coming weeks, AAAE will be reviewing the document and developing a survey to collect feedback from our members. AAAE will prepare responsive comments for the agency based on the input received before the deadline of February 25, 2022. If you or your airport are interested in submitting your own comments, you can use FAA's comment matrix, which is available here, and submit feedback directly to Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Environmental Specialist, Airport Planning and Environmental Division, at jean.wolfers-lawrence@faa.gov. 
Additional Resources
• FAA AC 150/5020-1, Noise Control and Compatibility Planning for Airports (Currently in Effect) 
• Draft AC 150/5020-1A, Noise Control and Compatibility Planning for Airports (Available for Public Comment) 
• FAA Industry Letter on Draft AC 150/5020-1A 
• FAA Press Release on Draft AC 150/5020-1A 
  
