Section 803 and the Future of Aircraft Owner Information Access

Section 803 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 limits public access to certain owner-identification information such as an owner’s name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address. Airport stakeholders rely on this data to enforce both mandatory and voluntary noise abatement programs and to support a “good neighbor environment for affected communities and airspace users.” This panel will examine how different stakeholders use this information, the potential consequences of changes to its access, and perspectives on FAA’s discretion in how the requirement is implemented.

Noise Reduction - Further Potential, Promising Procedures, and Other Current Concepts

Many in the industry believe that we have squeezed all the noise reduction we can out of the current aircraft technology. However, with the continued rapid pace of innovation and advancements in technology, is there still great potential for reducing aircraft noise? Aerospace researchers, manufacturers, airlines, and aviation authorities can all work in collaboration to improve. So, what is the current state of this effort, and will these innovations translate into real-world operational improvements that have the potential to benefit everyone?

Frontlines of the Airport Noise Office: Perspectives, Practices, and Possibilities

The airport noise landscape is as complex as ever. With the rise of connected grassroots community groups, paired with the public availability of affordable, real-time, high-quality data, and coordinated communications, many airports have had to adjust their protocols to ensure continued connection to the communities they serve. Outreach to first time callers is as vital as ever for the airport to get right, and antiquated processes and systems, along with staff reductions, have hampered some airports’ ability to engage with communities in a meaningful way; leading to increased frustration from the community and less constructive dialogue around solutions. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, programmed bots, and automated scripts have added additional complexity to how communities are submitting complaints, and airports are responding to concerns with already constrained staffing. This session will provide insights from noise officers and community members on how they are working together to provide meaningful engagement and attempting to solve complex aviation noise challenges.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel - Opportunities and Challenges

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is often cited as a cornerstone of aviation’s decarbonization strategy, with some commercial flights already incorporating SAF blends. Speakers will examine the opportunities, constraints, and challenges facing SAF, from technology readiness and supply chain capacity to the economic and environmental trade-offs involved. The panelists will then discuss whether it is possible to achieve a sufficient, affordable, and sustainable supply of SAF to enable the aviation industry to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

Sharing the Evolving Airspace: Today’s Airspace and Tomorrow’s New Entrants

The complexity of the National Airspace System (NAS) continues to be at the forefront of any discussion on aviation noise. With continual maintenance and ongoing modernization of the system, airports are working closely with the FAA to collaboratively look for solutions for all stakeholders. The new entrants to the airspace in the next decades such as electric vertical take/off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, supersonic aircraft, and uncrewed/autonomous vehicles present exciting challenges. This session will speak to how airports are planning for these entrants now, what the FAA's roadmap is for airspace evolution, and how states and other stakeholders are proactively preparing to work collaboratively with the FAA and operators.

What You Need to Know About Drones - Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

Explore how Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) are being integrated into the National Airspace System (NAS) through evolving policy, technology, and operational developments. The session will examine early lessons from commercial drone implementation, the emerging role of drones in package delivery, and the federal directive to accelerate UAS integration through Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) regulations including different stakeholder perspectives.

Insights into Aircraft Noise & Sleep Disturbance

One of the health effects of aircraft noise is sleep disturbance. In this session, we will have a leading aircraft noise and sleep expert explore with us the state of the science on how aircraft noise can lead to sleep disturbance and the health effects of sleep disturbance. The session will share about acoustic and non-acoustic factors that determine noise-induced sleep disturbance, the findings from recent FAA efforts to estimate aircraft noise effects on sleep in the US population, and a recent study on the efficacy of noise mitigation measures (earplugs, pink noise). Within these discussions, the session will touch on differences from established (jet, helicopter) and emerging (drones, low sonic boom) aircraft noise sources, and the role of science in noise policy.

Advanced Air Mobility in Action: Moving From Plans to Operations

Hear how the first wave of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) services is taking shape. Speakers will share early insights from pilot projects and partnerships, covering planned use cases and benefits, resourcing, community engagement, environmental review, and federal-local collaboration. These efforts will inform the regulatory, environmental, and economic frameworks for this emerging sector.

More to come!