The Aviation-Impacted Communities Act aims to broaden eligibility for federal noise mitigation funding and establish a structured process for addressing aviation noise impacts. It specifically allows aviation-impacted communities that are not currently within the 65 DNL (Day-Night Average Sound Level) standard to qualify for Airport Improvement Program noise mitigation funds and new grants. These communities will also gain status to establish community boards to address local airport noise issues.

A key provision requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to contract with the National Academy of Sciences for a comprehensive study. This study will summarize global literature on aviation impacts and focus on large hub commercial airports and surrounding communities, including those outside the 65 DNL contour in specific metropolitan areas like King County, Boston, Chicago, and New York City. It will examine various data, including noise metrics, emissions, flight paths, and impacts on communities near multiple airports or with unique geography.

Based on the study's findings, the National Academy of Sciences will develop a framework and diagnostic tool for the FAA. This tool will be used for conducting community assessments, measuring impacts from high-frequency flights, new flight procedures, night-time noise, and decreased flight path dispersion. It will also help evaluate structures eligible for noise mitigation, with community input being a crucial part of its development to ensure usability by community boards and the public.

The bill outlines a process for designating communities and forming community boards. The FAA must conduct outreach to inform officials of the opportunity for designation, and any aviation-impacted community can request to be recognized. Community boards, formed within six months of designation, will comprise representatives from local government, airport operators, impacted residents, and public health/environmental sectors. These boards will serve to inform airport operators and the FAA about aviation impacts, draft community reports, and petition for community assessments using the NAS framework.

Following a community assessment, the FAA Administrator must collaborate with community boards to devise action plans within six months. These plans will include long-term regional strategies for reducing aviation impacts, such as sound insulation, air filtration, and changes in flight paths or procedures. An appeals process will be established for communities to challenge FAA decisions not to implement recommended changes, involving an independent panel of public health, environmental, and aviation experts.

The Act authorizes significant mitigation funding, with grants to be made available for noise mitigation in designated communities for residences, hospitals, schools, and other impacted facilities. Eligibility for this funding will be determined using standards developed by the FAA based on the NAS framework and diagnostic tool. The bill specifically mandates noise mitigation for communities subject to high flight frequency or significant night-time aircraft noise, defining mitigation broadly to include sound insulation, noise barriers, and other measures indicated by assessments.

To support these initiatives, the bill authorizes an appropriation of $750,000,000 from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for fiscal years 2025 through 2034, with additional sums authorized thereafter. These funds are primarily designated for making grants under the mitigation program, with a small percentage allocated for FAA administrative costs.