While the Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 658) signed into law earlier this week authorized $63bn for the Federal Aviation Administration, it also included a long-sought for provision to phase out older, noisier jets that were exempt from a law Congress passed more than 20 years ago.

Section 506 prohibits, after December 31, 2015, the operation within the 48 contiguous states of jets weighing 75,000 pounds or less not already complying with Stage 3 noise levels, with some exceptions for temporary operations related to moving aircraft for modification or sale.

Since 2004, the effort to eliminate the exemption was championed by a coalition of airport managers and neighbors at some of the nation’s busiest corporate airports where the older aircraft accounted for an inordinate number of noise complaints.

“Managers of airports located in congested metropolitan areas across the country wanted Congress to help us respond to the concerns of our neighbors,” said Bob Bogan, Deputy Executive Director at Morristown Municipal Airport, a founding airport member of Sound Initiative: A Coalition for Quieter Skies. Morristown is among the New York metropolitan region’s busiest corporate airports.

“When Congress passed the ‘Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990’ requiring airlines to phase out noisier Stage 2 aircraft, it provided some relief to airport neighbors. It also limited the financial burden on private/corporate aircraft owners and operators by exempting aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds,” Bogan continued. “Although the number of these aircraft operating in U.S. airspace diminished over the next two decades, evidence at some airports suggested the remaining aircraft accounted for a high percentage of total complaints. We asked Congress to finish what it began in 1990.”

Airports accepting government funding for airport improvement projects are bound by regulations requiring that they be open and accessible to all aircraft that can safely operate to and from the facility, regardless of whether they meet new, modern noise standards. This law gives aircraft operators of what FAA registration records indicate are over 850 Stage 2 aircraft until the end of 2015 to modify their aircraft to meet the new standards or discontinue use of the aircraft in U.S. airspace. The result should be fewer noise-related complaints at some of the nation’s busiest non-commercial airports.

Sound Initiative was organized by airport operators on the front line of the aircraft noise debate on a daily basis. The effort to phase out remaining Stage 2 aircraft was viewed as an effort where airports and their neighbors could work with elected officials toward a common goal.

“Since we began, coalition members worked with their own congressional delegations and we made our case before the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate with responsibility over aviation issues,” Bogan noted. “While we hoped for relief sooner, unfortunately our issue became entangled with all the other issues of a major funding bill. But a core group of founding members stuck with it and we’re grateful to the current leadership, as well as those members of Congress with whom we’ve worked over the past several years, that helped us help our neighbors.”

Key members of the coalition included airports run by MASSPORT (Hanscom Field) and the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey (Teterboro). Others across the country joined the cause in support of their neighbors.

L.G. Hanscom Field (MASSPORT)

“Over the past ten years stage 2 jet operations have decreased at L.G. Hanscom Field from 11 percent in 2000 to 1.4 percent in 2010, yet these aircraft contributed a disproportionate amount of jet noise - almost 16 percent,” said Airport Director Barbara Patzner. “We’ve been a strong supporter of this effort and thank the member airports of Sound Initiative for taking the lead to address this long standing noise compatibility issue. We are very aware of the impact the airport has on our neighbors and we work diligently to lessen that including re-routing touch and go activity away from our immediate neighbor the Minute Man National Historical Park and our support of this important initiative is indicative of that.” Hanscom Field is located in Bedford MA and is the primary general aviation reliever airport for Boston Logan International Airport and is New England’s premier full-service corporate airport.

Port Authority of NY/NJ

The Port Authority of NY/NJ long managed aviation noise issues at its facilities, including Teterboro Airport, as well as Newark, LaGuardia, and Stewart and John F. Kennedy International Airports. “The Port Authority and its aviation partners have used extensive resources to create quieter skies and mitigate aircraft noise in order to improve the quality of life for people who live, work and attend school in communities near airports,” Port Authority Aviation Director Susan M. Baer said. “We applaud provisions in the new FAA Reauthorization that build upon our efforts, and will continue working to make improvements wherever and whenever we can.”

Centennial Airport, Englewood, CO

Robert Olislagers, Executive Director of Centennial Airport in suburban Denver’s community of Englewood, Colorado, was among the first supporters of Sound Initiative. “Centennial Airport has long advocated a phase out of aircraft not meeting Stage III noise standards and the signing into law of HR 658 finally makes this a reality. The benefit to communities surrounding airports with significant noise exposure far outweighs the fiscal impact on aircraft operators who need to dispose of these aircraft by 2016. We applaud Congress for its bipartisan support,” Olislagers stated.

Boca Raton Airport, FL

In Boca Raton, Florida, airport management was key to gaining the support of local homeowners associations in surrounding neighborhoods. According to Boca Raton Airport Authority's Sound Initiative Committee Chair, Bruce Benefield, “The Boca Raton Airport worked diligently with the County Commissioners, Mayor, City Council, our Congressional Delegation, as well as the local neighborhoods surrounding the airport to encourage the support of the Sound Initiative's grass roots effort to phase out the remaining Stage 2 aircraft. Approximately 80% of all noise concerns at the airport are a result of Stage 2 aircraft. Therefore, the support was overwhelming, as it was evident that this phase out would be extremely beneficial to our community. It is wonderful to see this Law come to life. We appreciate all of the hard work and tremendous efforts of the Sound Initiative Committees and Congress."

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, CO

Jim Elwood, Aspen/Pitkin County’s Director of Aviation, said airport neighbors could only benefit from the move. “The neighbors of the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport appreciate Congress eliminating the loudest and most impactful aircraft still flying. It will be welcome news to improving the quality of life for our citizens who have waited a very long time to see these aircraft disappear from our skies."

In addition to the airports listed above, other airport members of the original coalition included:

• Scottsdale Airport, AZ

• Livermore Airport, CA

• Redding Municipal Airport, CA

• Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, CA

• Santa Monica Airport, CA

• Sonoma County Airport, CA

• Truckee Tahoe Airport, CA

• Bradley International Airport, CT

• Key West International Airport, FL

• Martin County Airport, FL

• Naples Municipal Airport, FL

• St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, FL

• Reno/Tahoe International Airport, NV

• Trenton-Mercer Airport, NJ

• Collin County Regional Airport, TX

Morristown Municipal Airport