---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 47509"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "47509"
heading: "Research program on quiet aircraft technology for propeller and rotor driven aircraft"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/47509"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part B — Airport Development and Noise"
  - "Chapter 475 — Noise"
  - "Subchapter I — Noise Abatement"
---

# §47509. Research program on quiet aircraft technology for propeller and rotor driven aircraft

- (a) **Establishment.—** The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Administrator of the National [Aeronautics](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-1) and Space Administration shall conduct a study to identify technologies for noise reduction of [propeller](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-40) driven [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) and rotorcraft.
- (b) **Goal.—** The goal of the study conducted under [subsection (a)](#a) is to determine the status of research and development now underway in the area of quiet technology for [propeller](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-40) driven [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) and rotorcraft, including technology that is cost beneficial, and to determine whether a research program to supplement existing research activities is necessary.
- (c) **Participation.—** In conducting the study required under [subsection (a)](#a), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Administrator of the National [Aeronautics](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-1) and Space Administration shall encourage the participation of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, the airtour industry, the aviation industry, academia and other appropriate groups.
- (d) **Report.—** Not less than 280 days after August 23, 1994, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Administrator of the National [Aeronautics](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-1) and Space Administration shall transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study required under [subsection (a)](#a).
- (e) **Research and Development Program.—** If the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Administrator of the National [Aeronautics](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-1) and Space Administration determine that additional research and development is necessary and would substantially contribute to the development of quiet [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) technology, then the agencies shall conduct an appropriate research program in consultation with the entities listed in [subsection (c)](#c) to develop safe, effective, and economical noise reduction technology (including technology that can be applied to existing [propeller](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-40) driven [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) and rotorcraft) that would result in [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) that operate at substantially reduced levels of noise to reduce the impact of such [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) and rotorcraft on the resources of national parks and other areas.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–305, title III, § 308(a), Aug. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 1593; amended Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(86), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3398.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted “August 23, 1994” for “the date of the enactment of this section”.