Aircraft Noise

Aircraft Noise Regulations

Regardless of size, purpose or ownership, all civil aircraft operating in Australia are required to comply with the Air Navigation (Aircraft Noise) Regulations under the Commonwealth's Air Navigation Act.

Unless it has been continuously on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register since 6 December 1990, an aircraft may not operate in Australia unless:

• it is noise certificated to the standards set out in the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Annex 16 Volume 3
• has a permit to operate without a noise certificate
• or has been assessed as being in an exempt category.

The Regulations also prohibit the operation of non-Chapter 3 jet aircraft in Australia. This prohibition applies equally to foreign registered non-Chapter 3 jet aircraft as to Australian-registered aircraft.

The penalty for operation in breach of the Regulations is a maximum fine of $2,000 per operation.

Click here for an overview of the Air Navigation (Aircraft Noise) Regulations 

To view the actual regulations click on the following link: The Air Navigation (Aircraft Noise) Regulations.

To lodge a complaint regarding aircraft noise, please use our online form.

To contact the Noise Enquiry Service phone 1800 802 584 (freecall) or 1300 302 240 (local call)
or write to:
Noise Enquiry Service
PO Box 211
Mascot NSW 1460
Email: community.relations@airservicesaustralia.com