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Friday, 20 December, 2019

NATA Supports Industry Letter Opposing Aircraft Noise Reduction Act (H.R. 5423)

Today, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) joined a coalition of aviation stakeholder groups on a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio and Ranking Member Sam Graves, as well as Subcommittee on Aviation Chairman Rick Larsen and Ranking Member Garret Graves, expressing opposition to H.R. 5423, a bill introduced by Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-2) called the “Aircraft Noise Reduction Act.” While the bill was in response to noise complaints from constituents, what it really does is devolve federal authority to the sponsors of general aviation airports, allowing them to impose restrictions on the type and times of operations of aircraft for compensation or hire. At many airports, this could potentially include Part 135 air charter, regional air cargo, flight instruction, and regional air carrier service.

“NATA’s members rely on the efficiency of and access to the National Airspace System. The operational flexibility of general aviation in America sets us apart from other countries and fosters the economic value that GA flights bring to communities across the country. We will continue to strongly advocate in favor of federal policies that maintain access to our aviation infrastructure and reject attempts to restrict it,” stated Jonathon Freye, NATA’s Vice President of Government & Public Affairs. “NATA members are good neighbors who have historically come to the table with local stakeholders to find collaborative solutions. This legislation is an unfairly unilateral approach to noise concerns that allows local politicians to assume a historical federal role, while circumventing a balanced dialogue on the implications of restricting charter and air cargo flight operations in communities that rely upon them.”

The letter was signed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, the Cargo Airline Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, the National Air Transportation Association, the National Business Aviation Association, and the Regional Airline Association. The letter stipulates that the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 enshrined federal authority to regulate noise restrictions and defined a process for resolving noise complaints that has been successful for decades.

“Undercutting the role reliever airports play, H.R. 5423 could shift operations to commercial airports, many of which are already capacity constrained. Instead of working with industry to develop solutions, this legislation could simply shift any direct noise impacts to other neighborhoods and cause a cascade of delays and other impacts throughout the NAS,” the letter reads, in part.

If you have any questions concerning this issue, please contact Jonathon Freye at jfreye@nata.aero.

For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.