FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ISSUES FINAL RULE ON STAGE 5 AIRPLANE NOISE STANDARDS
The FAA issued a Final Rule on Stage 5 Airplane Noise Standards on October 4, 2017. This final rule became effective on November 3, 2017.
Summary. This new noise standard was adopted for certain newly certificated subsonic jet airplanes and subsonic transport category large airplanes. It seeks to lower the noise limit, requires quieter designs, and encourages manufacturers to adopt the latest available noise reduction technology into their aircraft designs. It also adopts new noise certification standards for airplanes certificated in the United States that are equivalent to that of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Background. On January 14, 2016, the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled Stage 5 Airplane Noise Standards that proposed new noise standard for certain aircrafts. The new noise standard applies to any person submitting an application for a new airplane type design that has a maximum certificated takeoff weight (MTOW) of 121,254 pounds (maximum certificated takeoff mass (MTOM) 55,000 kg) or more on or after December 31, 2017; or that has a MTOW of less than 121,254 pounds (MTOM less than 55,000 kg) on or after December 31, 2020.
Current operational noise limits for aircrafts in the United States, or new type designs submitted before the applicable compliance date for Stage 5 will not be impacted by adoption of Stage 5 noise standards. Current U.S. operating rules require that jet aircrafts meet at least Stage 3 noise limits and the current noise limit applicable to new type designs is Stage 4.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Shelley Ewalt.
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