Noise Certification Regulations for Helicopters

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is amending the noise certification regulations for helicopters. These changes are based on a joint effort by the FAA, the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), and the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), to harmonize the U.S. noise certification regulations with the European Joint Aviation Requirements (JAR) for helicopters. These changes will provide nearly uniform noise certification standards for helicopters certificated in the United States, the JAA countries, and other countries that have adopted as their national regulation, either the United States regulations, the JAA regulations, or the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Harmonizing the noise certification standards will simplify airworthiness approvals for imported and exported helicopters.