Aviation-Impacted Communities Act

This proposal helps neighborhoods near busy airports reduce aircraft noise and other impacts. It lets more communities qualify for federal noise‑relief funds, even if they are outside the FAA’s usual 65 DNL noise area. A community is covered if it sits within one mile of a point where a commercial or cargo jet route is 3,000 feet or lower above the ground. The FAA must reach out so these areas can choose to become “designated,” set up local boards to speak for residents, and get help measuring problems. The FAA will also work with the National Academy of Sciences to build an easy‑to‑use tool to study flight paths, noise, emissions, and patterns like frequent or nighttime flights.

After a community asks for a study, the FAA and the local board have six months to create an action plan to reduce harms. Plans can include soundproofing homes and other buildings, building noise barriers, adding air filtration, and, when appropriate, adjusting flight paths or procedures. If the FAA decides not to make changes a study says would help, it must explain why, and the community can appeal to an independent panel of public health, environmental, and aviation experts. Areas with many overhead flights or heavy late‑night flights get targeted help, and grants must follow within 180 days of the plan; the measure allows $750 million in funding for 2025–2034 .

• Who is affected

  • People living near low‑altitude jet routes within one mile, including places with frequent or late‑night flights .
  • Local boards include equal voices from local officials, airport operators, residents, and public health/environment representatives.

• What changes

  • Access to FAA noise‑mitigation funds even outside the 65 DNL noise area.
  • Outreach and a simple way to become a designated community.
  • Community boards, assessments, and action plans, plus an appeal option if FAA declines changes .
  • Grants for homes, hospitals, nursing homes and day cares, schools, and places of worship; mitigation can include soundproofing and noise barriers .

• When

  • FAA outreach within 90 days of enactment.
  • Community board formed within 6 months of designation.
  • Action plan within 6 months after a community assessment.
  • Grants within 180 days after the action plan; funding runs 2025–2034 .