[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 149 (Thursday, August 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18904]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 4, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 36 and 91

[Docket No. 25109]
RIN 2120-AC22

 

Civil Supersonic Airplane Noise Type Certification Standards and 
Operating Rules

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Statement of policy.

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SUMMARY: This document provides a statement of Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) policy concerning noise limits for future civil 
supersonic airplanes (SST). The FAA is withdrawing a previously 
published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to amend 
the regulations regarding type certification noise limits of these 
airplanes. This document supplements the withdrawal of the proposed 
rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 4, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Laurette Fisher, Policy and Regulatory Division (AEE-300), Office 
of Environment and Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, telephone (202) 267-
3561.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1990, the FAA proposed to amend the type 
certification noise standards and noise operating rules for future-
generation civil supersonic airplanes. After analyzing the comments 
received on the NPRM, the FAA determined that further investigation and 
research is necessary before a final rule can be developed. The 
withdrawal of that NPRM its published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register. Although the proposed rule is being withdrawn, the 
FAA has not changed its policy on noise issues involving the 
development of future-generation civil supersonic airplanes.

Policy Statement

    While it is premature at this time to issue a final rule 
establishing the specific noise standard for such supersonic airplanes, 
it is important to reiterate the Federal Aviation Administration's 
(FAA) commitment to aviation's longstanding efforts to achieve 
increasingly effective noise abatement at its source. Consequently, it 
is anticipated that any future Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued by 
FAA would propose that any future SST airplane shall produce no greater 
noise impact on a community than a subsonic airplane certified to Stage 
3 noise limits. As such, the noise limits prescribed in 14 CFR part 36, 
Stage 3 may be used as guidelines for the development of any future SST 
airplane. This is consistent with the recommendation recently added to 
Chapter 4 of the International Civil Aviation Organization's Annex 16, 
Volume I, that states that Chapter 3 noise levels applicable to 
subsonic airplanes may be used as guidelines for future SST airplanes. 
Provisions for the noise certification of future SST airplanes will be 
developed giving consideration, to the extent possible, to the unique 
operational flight characteristics of future SST designs.

    Issued in Washington, DC on July 29, 1994.
Paul R. Dykeman,
Acting Director of Environment and Energy.
[FR Doc. 94-18904 Filed 8-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M