2026 Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium

They’re a feat of modern technology. A revolutionary connector of people across all corners of the globe. They’ve solidified themselves as a primary form of transportation in our lives. Chances are, you’ve ridden one five, ten, twenty times. I am, of course, talking about airplanes. 

But it’s not all roses and sunshine—the incorporation of air travel into everyday lives has major connections to the climate crisis and poor air quality, with adverse health effects stemming from both emissions and noise pollution. Over 40,000 flights take off in the United States every day, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. With millions of people living near airports, that’s entire cities, neighborhoods and communities impacted by aviation noise and emissions daily—not to mention the millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases that affect us all. 

Air travel will only continue to grow, but so will the harm it can cause and the scrutiny it will face. Do we keep aviation on its current trajectory and ignore the growing impacts on our climate and community health? Should we keep facets isolated and not look at the bigger picture? Or should we connect the dots, collaborate with experts and address issues that arise from the same root? For the health of our environment and people, it needs to be the latter. 

What Is The Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium? 

The Aviation Noise & Emissions Symposium (ANE Symposium) is a conference that brings together the various stakeholders in the world of aviation. Hosted by the UC Davis Air Quality Research Center (AQRC), it facilitates conversations between groups such as airport professionals, policymakers, community members and researchers. This interdisciplinary approach is essential for tackling the complexities of air travel—unlike other conferences, ANE Symposium doesn’t focus on one piece of the puzzle, but incorporates the diverse perspectives of everyone involved. 

For over 40 years, ANE Symposium has been the premier conference for the intersection of aviation noise and emissions. Guided by UC Davis research, aviation leaders come together in one place to inform and develop new policies, technologies and actionable solutions. If you’re a part of the interconnected network of disciplines that is the aviation industry, this is the place to be. 

Part of that complex mosaic are the community members. Imagine, for a second, what it would be like to live near an airport. How would you feel if there were constantly planes flying overhead, their dull roar waking you up at night or interrupting everyday life? 

Darlene Yaplee, the president/co-founder of the Aviation-Impacted Communities Alliance and leader in community engagement, started her journey in the aviation world as a concerned citizen. Now the co-lead for the ANE Symposium Program Committee, she knows how important it is for everyone to have a seat at the table. 

“What is very unique about [ANE Symposium] is that it really does convene diverse perspectives around pretty practical content,” she said. “It's not siloed, like a community group or an airline group. There are all these different stakeholders—which is more difficult because everyone's not completely aligned—but it's also more realistic and more productive.” 

With community voices incorporated into the big picture, policymakers and researchers know what to target—they know what will have a real, tangible effect. 

Greg Maxwell, the other Program Committee co-lead, brings another perspective: that of industry and the airport. With expertise in aviation noise—he’s the principal aviation noise analyst for Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, an aviation consulting and engineering firm—he sees the challenges facing airports first-hand. 

For one, it’s difficult for all of the involved groups to be on the same page, especially when there are barriers to communication. Some operations may not fully grasp the extent of noise pollution, while community members may not be educated on the airport’s capability to control where planes fly—that’s the Federal Aviation Administration’s jurisdiction. 

“The whole goal of trying to get participation and cooperation is we want to make it so that the airport is seen as an asset, and not as a liability to the community,” Greg said. This mutual understanding leads to balance and compromise.

For example, due to the uptick in noise pollution awareness, a new survey circled around community groups trying to change the 65-decibel standard that defines significant noise. “We're trying to help the FAA, and airports, and the community. We're all trying to get together to figure out, okay, what is the best standard? If we don't use 65 [decibels], what should the new standard be?” Greg elaborated.

Actually developing quieter and more sustainable aircraft is a whole other can of worms. It’s one thing to know the problem, but another to create the solution. 

Why Should I Attend?

By attending ANE Symposium, you get to be a part of the solution. Are you a community leader who wants to raise awareness of the impact a nearby airport has on your neighborhood? Through community-based sessions, you’ll have conversations with policymakers and airport officials—you’ll be able to inform policies and build a relationship with the airport. Perhaps you’re a researcher working on creating quieter or less energy-intensive engines. At ANE Syposium, you’ll be able to connect with sponsors who are interested in funding the development of new technologies; and from the role of a sponsor, your business will reach the most targeted audience of aviation-focused sustainability there is. The need for sustainable technology will only increase, and the aviation industry needs to keep up. 

This multidisciplinary approach is how innovation occurs and progress gets made. 

“[ANE Symposium] is designed to bring together airports, operators, communities, researchers, policymakers and industry.” Darlene Yaplee described. “I expect that my understanding will increase, mutually benefit different attendees and inform increased relationships I currently have, and form new ones. No doubt, people walk away with an action that they need to consider.”