​The way aircraft are operated in day-to-day operations may also present impacts in terms of the noise that reaches the ground. ICAO assists on the development and standardization of low noise operational procedures that are safe and cost-effective. The possibilities include noise preferential runways and routes and noise abatement procedures for take-off and landing. The appropriateness of any of these measures depends on the physical lay-out of the airport and its surroundings, but in all cases the procedure must give priority to safety considerations.

ICAO's recommendations on operational procedures are contained in several documents:

• Doc 8168 (Procedures for Air Navigation Services — Aircraft Operations (PANS-OPS)) Part I – provides guidance on noise preferential runways and routes, displaced thresholds, approach and landing operating procedures, and Noise Abatement Departure Procedures (NADPs).
• Doc 8168 (Procedures for Air Navigation Services — Aircraft Operations (PANS-OPS)) Part II – includes the consideration of noise aspects on the planning and definition of departure routes, including the compromise involved in concentrating or spreading aircraft noise with the routes definition.
• Doc 9931 - Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) Manual and Doc 9993 - Continuous Climb Operations (CCO) Manual provide guidance on CDO and CCO operations that may present benefits at both noise and emissions aspects.
• Doc 9888 – Review of noise abatement research and development and implementation projects contains a summary of two surveys of key aviation stakeholders conducted in 2006 and 2008.
• Doc 10031 Guidance on Environmental Assessment of Proposed Air Traffic Management Operational Changes provides  environmental assessment guidance to support sound and informed decision making when analysing proposed air traffic management (ATM) operational changes.