Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§47172 Air Traffic Procedures for Airport Capacity Enhancement Projects at Congested Airports

Title 49 › SUBTITLE VII — AVIATION PROGRAMS › PART B — AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT AND NOISE › CHAPTER 471 — AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT › SUBCHAPTER III — AVIATION DEVELOPMENT STREAMLINING › § 47172

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The FAA Administrator can set flight paths during environmental review to reduce big noise problems from adding or changing runways at busy airports. If the FAA finds those noise-reducing routes safe and workable and the airport asks, the FAA can promise to put them into the project's approval, following federal law. Even after promising, the FAA may change those routes later if new information or changed conditions make changes needed to keep airspace safe and efficient.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §47172

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may consider prescribing flight procedures to avoid or minimize potentially significant adverse noise impacts of an airport capacity enhancement project at a congested airport that involves the construction of new runways or the reconfiguration of existing runways during the environmental planning process for the project. If the Administrator determines that noise mitigation flight procedures are consistent with safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace, the Administrator may commit, at the request of the airport sponsor and in a manner consistent with applicable Federal law, to prescribing such procedures in any record of decision approving the project.

(b)Modification.—

Notwithstanding any commitment by the Administrator under subsection (a), the Administrator may initiate changes to such procedures if necessary to maintain safety and efficiency in light of new information or changed circumstances.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 2003, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–176, set out an

Effective Date

of 2003 Amendment note under section 106 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 47172

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110