On October 4, 2017, the FAA issued new regulations for noise certification standards on certain airplanes. They become effective November 3, 2017. Certification standards apply to the design and manufacture of an aircraft. Operational rules apply to its operation. Specifically, the new rules adopt:
a new noise standard for newly certificated subsonic jet airplanes and subsonic transport category large airplanes. By lowering the noise limit, this standard requires quieter designs and encourages manufacturers to adopt the latest available noise reduction technology into their aircraft designs. This rulemaking adopts new noise certification standards for airplanes certificated in the United States (known as Stage 5) that are equivalent to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 16, Volume I standard known as Chapter 14.
These new rules will not apply to launch or reentry vehicles because the law does not treat launch and reentry vehicles as aircraft. Additionally, launch and reentry vehicles do not undergo certification. However, the new rules may serve as a reminder of what happens when noise overburdens a community. The communities turn to Congress and demand that Congres take action.
Another interesting facet of the new rules is that the FAA describes its new standards as equivalent to the international standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO has expressed keen interest in suborbital launch vehicles.
Try to keep it down out there.