The bill proposes the creation of community boards made up of elected officials, airport operators, and community residents. These boards will oversee the noise mitigation efforts and voice concerns regarding the aviation impacts on their communities. The Administrator of the FAA is mandated to draft actionable plans addressing noise concerns in collaboration with these boards. Specific provisions include creating sound insulation standards for affected buildings such as residences, hospitals, and schools, and providing grants for noise mitigation solutions.
Summary
House Bill 1047, known as the Aviation-Impacted Communities Act, aims to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide funding for noise mitigation in communities adversely affected by airport operations. The bill seeks to establish a funding mechanism for noise mitigation programs that would be made available to 'aviation-impacted communities.' These communities are defined as those located close to commercial or cargo jet routes, particularly where noise pollution significantly affects residential areas.
Contention
One point of contention regarding HB 1047 may arise from the selection and recognition of the communities that fall under this new funding program. The bill requires the FAA to reach out to potential designated communities effectively and to consider their unique geographical and demographic needs. Critics may argue about the adequacy of the measures in place to assess true community needs and the effectiveness of mitigation measures, as well as concerns over the potential limitations imposed by the noise standards and funding restrictions from the FAA.
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to establish an advisory committee for communities impacted by aviation, and for other purposes.
Aviation-Impacted Communities ActThis bill increases access to noise mitigation measures for aviation-impacted communities. Under the bill, an aviation-impacted community is a community that is located not more than one mile from any point at which a commercial or cargo jet route is 3,000 feet or less above ground level.The bill expands noise mitigation program funding under the Airport Improvement Program to include aviation-impacted communities that are not currently within the 65 day-night average sound level (DNL) standard.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must conduct outreach to aviation-impacted communities to inform them of the opportunity to be a designated community. A designated community must form a community board to provide information to airport operators and the FAA concerning aviation impacts (e.g., aircraft noise).A community board may petition the FAA to conduct a community assessment and, based on the assessment, the FAA must devise an action plan that alleviates or addresses the community’s concerns.In addition, the FAA must enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and provide the FAA with a framework and diagnostic tool for conducting community assessments.The FAA must provide grants for necessary noise mitigation in a designated community for residences, hospitals, nursing homes, adult or child day care centers, schools, and places of worship. Further, the FAA and airport operators must provide (1) noise mitigation grants for communities subject to significant frequency of overhead flights, and (2) noise mitigation for residences impacted by significant nighttime aircraft noise.
Advanced Aviation Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to redesignate the Office of NextGen as the Office of Advanced Aviation within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The new office duties include the coordination of rulemaking and approval processes on matters relating to advanced aviation systems (e.g., drones, supersonic aircraft technologies, counter-unmanned aircraft systems). The bill also establishes an Office of Advanced Integration within the Office of Advanced Aviation. Additionally, DOT must establish an Advanced Aviation Coordination Unit within the FAA whose responsibilities shall include the promotion of the safe and responsible integration of advanced aviation systems into the national airspace system. Further, DOT must redesignate the William J. Hughes Technical Center as the William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aviation. The center must establish and manage a program to evaluate new aviation-related technologies proposed to be used in the national airspace system and facilitate the integration of such technologies into the national airspace system.