---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 47172"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "47172"
heading: "Air traffic procedures for airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/47172"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part B — Airport Development and Noise"
  - "Chapter 471 — Airport Development"
  - "Subchapter III — Aviation Development Streamlining"
---

# §47172. Air traffic procedures for airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports

- (a) **In General.—** The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may consider prescribing flight procedures to avoid or minimize potentially significant adverse noise impacts of an [airport capacity enhancement project](/usc/49/47175.md?p=1) at a [congested airport](/usc/49/47175.md?p=4) that involves the construction of new runways or the reconfiguration of existing runways during the environmental planning process for the [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17). If the Administrator determines that noise mitigation flight procedures are consistent with safe and efficient use of the [navigable airspace](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-32), the Administrator may commit, at the request of the [airport sponsor](/usc/49/47175.md?p=2) and in a manner consistent with applicable Federal law, to prescribing such procedures in any record of decision approving the [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17).
- (b) **Modification.—** Notwithstanding any commitment by the Administrator under [subsection (a)](#a), the Administrator may initiate changes to such procedures if necessary to maintain safety and efficiency in light of new information or changed circumstances.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–176, title III, § 304(a), Dec. 12, 2003, 117 Stat. 2537.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 2003, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–176, set out an Effective Date of 2003 Amendment note under section 106 of this title.