Policy Brief
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s CAEP/13 aircraft noise standards
Governments working under the auspices of the United Nations have been regulating aviation noise via new aircraft standards since the 1970s. In February 2025, at its 13th triennial meeting, the Committee for Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommended new landing and takeoff (LTO) noise standards for adoption by member states. Two classes of aircraft are covered in the proposal: conventional subsonic aircraft similar to those that are in operation today, and future supersonic aircraft capable of flying faster than the speed of sound.
This policy brief outlines the proposed noise standards recommended by CAEP, explains enforcement, provides historical and technical context, describes the policy implications, and outlines next steps for the standards.
Figure 1. Reductions in aircraft noise limits required for commercial aircraft under international standards by certification year, 1990 to 2035
