Aircraft Noise: FAA Could Improve Outreach Through Enhanced Noise Metrics, Communication, and Support to Communities

As part of its effort to modernize the National Airspace System, FAA has been implementing new flight paths using satellite-based navigation, called performance-based navigation (PBN), at airports across the country. GAO reviewed FAA’s implementation of PBN with regard to noise and FAA’s related public outreach activities.

This report discusses how FAA assesses potential noise impacts for proposed PBN changes, the extent to which FAA’s noise impact analysis conveys expected changes; and FAA’s community outreach related to PBN and actions to improve this outreach.