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October 4, 2024

AICA President Darlene Yaplee Honored with the Walt Gillfillan Award at the Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium – March 2025

At the 2025 Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium in Las Vegas, Darlene Yaplee, President and Co-Founder of the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA) and Co-Founder of Concerned Residents of Palo Alto, was recognized with the Walt Gillfillan Award for her exceptional leadership and dedication to addressing aviation noise and environmental impacts. In her remarks, she emphasized the power of advocacy and representation, stating, “If you aren’t at the table, you are on the menu.”
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October 4, 2024

FAA Appoints Dr. Cindy Christiansen, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance (AICA) to Research and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) – January 17, 2025

FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker appointed Dr. Cindy Christiansen to a two-year term on REDAC, an FAA Advisory Committee. This milestone is not only a groundbreaking milestone for community representation but also recognizes Dr. Christiansen’s extensive expertise and contributions in advocating for the health and well-being of aviation-impacted communities. Her contributions will strengthen REDAC’s mission and elevate community voices in aviation policy and research.
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October 4, 2024

83 Organizations Signed Letter to Congress Re: Realizing a Modernized, Proactive National Airspace System (NAS): Is Airspace Capacity Infinite? – November 2025

In November 2025, AICA submitted its bipartisan recommendations to the House and Senate Transportation Committees calling for a modernized, proactive framework to manage the National Airspace System. Grounded in the lived experience of aviation-impacted communities, the letter underscores that airspace capacity is finite and that modernization must link staffing, aircraft types, and operational volume to objective safety thresholds. Endorsed by 83 community organizations, the submission urges Congress to strengthen accountability as the NAS faces increasing traffic, new aircraft types, and growing complexity
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October 4, 2024

FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 – April 2023-Current

71 Community groups urge Congressionals to protect communities from adverse aviation impacts of noise, health, and emissions through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023. The FAA Reauthorization Act is a United States federal law that is passed by Congress and signed by the President. It reauthorizes the FAA for five years on a wide range of measures: extends the FAA’s funding and provides new authorities and responsibilities. For reference, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 was signed by Congress on October 3, 2018, and the President on October 5, 2018.
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October 4, 2024

FAA Noise Policy Review – October 2022-Current

After reporting the Neighborhood Environmental Survey (NES) results on January 13, 2021, FAA stated its plan to “bringing on board the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to assist with designing an inclusive and participatory policy review framework and process that prioritizes input from substantially affected stakeholders, including local communities”. The FAA/FMCS Interagency Agreement (IAA) was signed September 10, 2021. On May 1, 2023 the FAA announced it would review its Noise Policy and solicited comments to the Federal Register.
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October 4, 2024

Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium (ANE) 2025: Presentations “Realizing a 21st Century Noise Policy”, “Attributes of a 21st Century Noise Report” and “NASA’s Quesst and Advanced Air Mobility Missions – Updates and Exploring Community Engagement Strategies”– March 2025

Presentations by Darlene Yaplee (AICA) on FAA Noise Policy Review, by Marie-Jo Fremont (Concerned Residents of Palo Alto, CA) and contributions by Darlene Yaplee (AICA) on a 21st Century Report, and by Darlene Yaplee (AICA) and Jonathan Rathsam (NASA) on updates to the Quesst (Supersonic) and Advanced Air Mobility missions and community engagement strategies.
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October 4, 2024

Federal Register Comment: National Collaboration on FAA’s Modernization of Pilot Schools (February 8, 2025–Current)

AICA led a February 8, 2025 Federal Register comment on the FAA’s Modernization of Pilot Schools (14 CFR Part 141) with Save Our Skies Alliance and Groton Ayer Buzz. The endorsements by the University Aviation Association (UAA) and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), followed by a subsequent joint submission by AICA, UAA, and NATA, marked an unprecedented alignment between community advocates and national aviation organizations.
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