Category: Projects

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

“Turbulence Ahead? Supreme Court Rulings & Environmental Law” Webinar – September 2024

AICA and CJSC, LLC co-hosted a webinar with panelists Barbara Lichman at Buckhalter and Steve Taber at Leech Tishman to learn about what Supreme Court cases Loper Bright and Corner Post might mean for the legal challenges on aviation environmental issues, such as noise impacts. The four panelists have extensive backgrounds in aviation law, environmental policy and compliance, and environmental advocacy. The webinar covered an overview of cases and a question/answer session.

AICA, Studio City For Quiet Skies, and UproarLA’s Federal Register Comment on NASA’s test on human response to Advanced Aviation Mobility (AAM) vehicle noise  – April 26, 2024-Current

Three community groups submitted a joint public comment in the Federal Register regarding NASA’s planned test. The overarching input is for NASA to design, execute, and derive findings from the Varied AAM Noise and Geographic Area Response Difference (VANGARD) test to accurately reflect how impacted communities experience noise.