Final compliance: Subsonic airplanes

This regulation established the baseline noise compliance requirement for subsonic airplanes operating in the United States. Since January 1, 1985, you cannot operate a subsonic airplane covered by this subpart to or from any U.S. airport unless it meets Stage 2 or Stage 3 noise standards defined in Part 36.

In practical terms, this means the aircraft must have been certified to meet specific noise limits during takeoff, landing, and overflight operations. Stage 2 represents older, noisier aircraft standards, while Stage 3 is quieter. This regulation was part of a phased approach to reduce aircraft noise around airports.

Note that certain exceptions exist in §§91.809 and 91.811 for specific operations. Today, this regulation is largely historical since Stage 2 aircraft have been phased out of U.S. operations, and most modern aircraft meet Stage 3 or the even quieter Stage 4 and Stage 5 standards.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*