Aircraft Noise: Better Information Sharing Could Improve Responses to Washington, D.C. Area Helicopter Noise Concerns
Fast Facts
We were asked to review helicopter noise in the Washington, D.C., area, where numerous flights support government, national security, and medical operations. There were about 88,000 helicopter flights within 30 miles of Reagan National Airport in 2017-19, including about 33,000 military and 18,000 law enforcement flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration has improved its ability to identify and respond to noise complaints. But the FAA and helicopter operators don't always tell each other about the complaints they receive. We recommended that the FAA develop a way to share this information to improve responses to these complaints.
Highlights
What GAO Found
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data for 2017 through 2019, over 50 helicopter operators conducted approximately 88,000 helicopter flights within 30 miles of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (D.C. area), though limited data on noise from these flights exist. According to operators, these flights supported various missions (see table below). While the number of flights has decreased slightly over the 3 years reviewed, it is unknown whether there has been a change in helicopter noise in the area. For example, most stakeholders do not collect noise data, and existing studies of helicopter noise in the area are limited. D.C. area airspace constraints—such as lower maximum altitudes near urban areas—combined with proximity to frequently traveled helicopter routes and operational factors may affect the noise heard by residents.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-Reported Helicopter Flights Conducted in the Washington, D.C. Area by Operator Mission, 2017–2019
|
Operator mission |
Number of flights |
|
Military |
32,890 (37.4 percent) |
|
Air medical |
18,322 (20.9 percent) |
|
Other aviation activity |
13,977 (15.9 percent)a |
|
State and local law enforcement |
12,861 (14.6 percent) |
|
Federal law enforcement and emergency support |
5,497 (6.3 percent) |
|
News |
4,298 (4.9 percent) |
Source: GAO analysis of FAA data. | GAO-21-200
Note: In this table, we refer to the Washington, D.C. area as including the area within 30 miles of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
aIncludes 666 flights for which FAA could not identify an operator or mission based on available historical records.
FAA and operators reported taking steps to address public concerns about helicopter noise in the D.C. area. FAA receives and responds to complaints on helicopter noise from the public through its Noise Ombudsman and has recently developed online forms that improve FAA's ability to identify and respond to helicopter noise issues. Operators reported using FAA-recommended practices, such as flying at maximum altitudes and limiting night flights, to address helicopter noise in the D.C. area, but such practices are likely not feasible for operators with military, law enforcement, or air medical evacuation missions.
FAA's and operators' approach to addressing these issues in the D.C. area is impeded because they do not consistently or fully share the information needed to do so. According to nearly all the operators we interviewed, FAA has not communicated with operators about helicopter noise or forwarded complaints to them. Similarly, operators often receive noise complaints from the public—some complaints are not directed to the correct operator—but do not typically share these complaints with FAA. As a result, operators have not consistently responded to residents' inquiries about helicopter noise and activity. By developing a mechanism for FAA and operators to share information, FAA could help improve responses to individual helicopter noise concerns and determine what additional strategies, if any, are needed to further address helicopter noise.
Why GAO Did This Study
Helicopter noise can potentially expose members of the public to a variety of negative effects, ranging from annoyance to more serious medical issues. FAA is responsible for managing navigable U.S. airspace and regulating noise from civil helicopter operations. Residents of the D.C. area have raised concerns about the number of helicopter flights and the resulting noise.
GAO was asked to review issues related to helicopter flights and noise within the D.C. area. Among its objectives, this report examines: (1) what is known about helicopter flights and noise from flights in the D.C. area, and (2) the extent to which FAA and helicopter operators have taken action to address helicopter noise in the D.C. area. GAO reviewed statutes, regulations, policies, and documents on helicopter noise. GAO analyzed (1) available data on helicopter operations and noise in the D.C. area for 2017 through 2019, and (2) FAA's approach to responding to helicopter complaints. GAO also interviewed FAA officials; representatives from 18 D.C. area helicopter operators, selected based on operator type and number of flights; and 10 local communities, selected based on factors including geography and stakeholder recommendations.
Recommendations
GAO recommends that FAA develop a mechanism to exchange helicopter noise information with operators in the D.C. area. FAA agreed with GAO's recommendation.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Aviation Administration | The Administrator of the FAA should direct the Office of Environment and Energy to develop a mechanism to exchange helicopter noise information with operators in the D.C. area. (Recommendation 1) |
Previously, FAA issued a revised noise complaint policy. As part of that policy, FAA began sharing nationwide, summary-level information about helicopter noise on its website in August 2023. In April 2024, FAA officials told us that FAA plans to issue quarterly updates to this information which may allow operators and the general public alike to access information regarding the nature of complaints and inquiries received by the FAA at both national and regional levels. In May 2024, as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-63) Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation, within two years of enactment, to establish a mechanism to make helicopter noise complaint data accessible to the FAA, to helicopter operators operating in the Washington, DC area, and to the public on a website of the FAA, based on the recommendation in this report. We will continue to monitor the implementation of this recommendation.
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