New Aircraft CO2 and Noise Standards

Earlier this month, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) made important progress, delivering agreement on the certification procedures supporting a new CO2 standard for aircraft, as well as a new global noise standard that will result in quieter skies and airports.

The agreed new noise standard will be 7EPNdB below ICAO’s current standard and will be applicable to new-design aircraft entering into service from 2017, and from 2020 for the lower weight aircraft.

The EPNdB is a measure of human annoyance due to aircraft noise, taking into account the perceived noise level and duration.

“This new noise standard is an important step for aviation and will provide a much quieter environment for the many communities living in proximity to the world’s airports,” said ICAO Secretary General, Raymond Benjamin. “ICAO is encouraged that, while it took air transport more than 20 years to agree to the last significant noise reduction standard, this one has been determined in less than half that time. This progress confirms our community’s continued determination to deliver on tangible and consensus-based environmental improvements.”