Update on ANAC and Noise Policy Review

From the Aviation Impacted Community Alliance (AICA):

Aircraft Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) Update:

The new administration is conducting a broad review of all Federal Advisory Committees (FACAs), including their charters, to ensure they align with its priorities. This government-wide review began in the spring and is still underway.

Once the review concludes, the FAA is expected to publish a solicitation for ANAC members in the Federal Register. No publication date has been set, and ANAC will not move forward until the FACA review is completed. As of now, no committee members have been appointed and ANAC has not yet been convened. ANAC is the advisory committee chartered by Congress to provide independent recommendations to the FAA on the Noise Policy Review, which is why its formation is the next required step before the FAA can move forward.

FAA Noise Policy Review Status:

The FAA has received public comments on its draft Noise Policy Review. The next step is the formation of ANAC, which will provide independent recommendations to the agency. ANAC may recommend changes to existing noise metrics, thresholds, or policy frameworks. After ANAC delivers its recommendations, the FAA will establish a timeline for completing the Noise Policy Review and determining whether policy updates will be adopted.

How Far Behind the ANAC Timeline Is Today?
Based on the deadlines Congress established in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, the ANAC process is now significantly delayed. Even if ANAC were formed today, the overall schedule would already be far off track.
We are now:

• One year late in forming the committee
• Two years late on when the committee was expected to submit recommendations to the FAA
• An additional year late on when the FAA was required to report those recommendations to Congress

Although the FAA has the authority to move forward with an interim noise policy update before ANAC is formed, it appears unlikely that the agency will do so.