Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150 is titled Airport Noise Compatibility Planning.  FAR Part 150 is the primary federal regulation guiding and controlling planning for aviation noise compatibility on and around airports.  Regulations in Part 150 are voluntary; airports can choose to undertake the analysis, and if the program is approved by the FAA, the airport is eligible to apply for federal grants for noise abatement projects identified in the Part 150 process. 

Under the Part 150, Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs) and a Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) are developed by airport operators to examine noise impacts.  This 2008 study is an update to the 1998 FAR Part 150 NEM and 1999 FAR Part 150 NCP.

The NEMs present current aircraft noise exposure and anticipated noise exposure in the near future.  The FAA’s Integrated Noise Model (INM) will be utilized to determine the noise exposure.  Once the maps are approved by the FAA, the NCP is developed to address the adverse noise impacts that are identified.  The NCP examines both noise abatement alternatives and land use alternatives.

The study’s process is documented in the following graphic:

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