A Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study is a voluntary study which defines the five-year vision for land use compatibility between an airport and the surrounding communities. The Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 was passed by Congress to address airport noise concerns. The Act required the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to adopt a system that uniformly measures aircraft noise in the vicinity of airports. Part 150 of the Federal Aviation Regulations – Airport Noise Compatibility Planning – was adopted by the FAA in 1981 to provide a framework for establishing a program that:

• Identifies current and future aircraft noise levels and their associated effects on the surrounding community.
• Identifies measures that will reduce or minimize aircraft noise over sensitive areas.
• Establishes land use guidelines that will address compatibility between the airport and its surrounding communities.
• Identifies areas where aircraft noise is present and encourages land uses that are compatible.
• Establishes a comprehensive Noise Compatibility Program for the airport.

Airports are not required to complete a Part 150 Study. However, by doing so, airports become eligible for federal funds that may be used to conduct the Study and implement any of the approved solutions that comprise the Noise Compatibility Program, such as sound insulation programs.