49 U.S.C. § 47508: Noise standards for air carriers and foreign air carriers providing foreign air transportation

the Secretary prescribed for new subsonic aircraft in regulations of the Secretary in effect on January 1, 1977 ; or of the International Civil Aviation Organization that are substantially compatible with standards of the Secretary for new subsonic aircraft in regulations of the Secretary at parts 36 and 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, prescribed between January 2, 1977 , and January 1, 1982 . The Secretary shall require each air carrier and foreign air carrier providing foreign air transportation to comply with the noise standards at a phased rate similar to the rate for aircraft registered in the United States. The requirement for air carriers providing foreign air transportation may not be more stringent than the requirement for foreign air carriers. The Secretary [of Transportation] shall continue to work to develop through the International Civil Aviation Organization new performance standards for aircraft and aircraft engines that will lead to a further reduction in aircraft noise levels. are performance based and can be achieved by use of a full range of certifiable noise reduction technologies; protect the useful economic value of existing Stage 3 aircraft in the United States fleet; ensure that United States air carriers and aircraft engine and hushkit manufacturers are not competitively disadvantaged; use dynamic economic modeling capable of determining impacts on all aircraft in service in the United States fleet; and continue the use of a balanced approach to address aircraft environmental issues, taking into account aircraft technology, land use planning, economic feasibility, and airspace operational improvements.” The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall jointly conduct a research program to develop new technologies for quieter subsonic jet aircraft engines and airframes. The goal of the research program established by subsection (a) is to develop by the year 2010 technologies for subsonic jet aircraft engines and airframes which would permit a subsonic jet aircraft to operate at reduced noise levels. In carrying out the program established by subsection (a), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall encourage the participation of representatives of the aviation industry and academia. The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall jointly submit to Congress, on an annual basis during the term of the program established by subsection (a), a report on the progress being made under the program toward meeting the goal described in subsection (b).”