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  • Flight Check
    The FAA will be conducting flight checks for the Instrument Landing System (ILS) on the morning of March 28, 2024. Expect an early morning departure, prior to curfew ending (6:30 a.m.), as the FAA is exempt from curfew hours when conducting flight checks. Multiple flyovers and approach passes may be heard by residents.

What Are We Doing?

Airport Noise Advisory Committee

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA) recognizes that neighborhoods surrounding San Diego International Airport are affected by noise from aircraft operations. An Airport Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) (Committee), consisting of individuals from various organizations, residential areas, and professional associations, was formed in 1981 under the San Diego Unified Port District, the previous operator of San Diego International Airport (SDIA). The Airport Noise Advisory Committee is formally adopted as Airport Authority Policy 9.20.

The Committee, composed of no more than 18 voting members, provides a forum for collaborative discussion of aircraft noise issues and other related matters. Voting members may include representatives of the following entities, agencies, industries, or interested groups:

Community Representatives within 65 Decibel Contour:

  • 1. Downtown Community Planning Council
  • 2. Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee
  • 3. Midway/Pacific Highway Community Planning Group
  • 4. Ocean Beach Planning Board
  • 5. Peninsula Community Planning Board
  • 6. Uptown Planners
  • 7. General community member from within the current 65 decibel Community Noise Equivalent Contours, rotated east and west of the airport every two years and appointed by the President/CEO

Community Representatives outside 65 Decibel Contour:

  • 8. City of San Diego (Community Planning Group)
  • 9. City of San Diego (Community Planning Group)
  • 10. City of San Diego (Community Planning Group)
  • 11. Outside City of San Diego (Community Planning Group or designee) Business Representatives

Business Representatives Appointed by the President/CEO:

  • 12. City of San Diego (Airport Staff Member)
  • 13. County of San Diego (Airport Staff Member)
  • 14. The United States Military
  • 15. Active Airline Pilot
  • 16. Airline Flight Operations
  • 17. Economic Development/Tourism
  • 18. National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)

The President/CEO may also appoint ex-officio (non-voting) members representing:

  • 1. The United States Congress, (or designee)
  • 2. The State of California legislature, (or designee)
  • 3. The County of San Diego Board of Supervisors (or designee)
  • 4. The San Diego City Council (or designees)
  • 5. The FAA, Lindbergh Air Traffic Control Tower
  • 6. The FAA, SoCal TRACON
  • 7. An acoustician

The Aircraft Noise Mitigation staff provide primary staff support for the Committee, and there is a meeting facilitator to run the meetings. Among many things, the Committee makes recommendations to the Airport Authority Board regarding:

  • • The Residential Sound Attenuation Program (Quieter Home)
  • • The CFR Part 150 - Aircraft Noise & Land Use Compatibility Program
  • • Aircraft Noise Monitoring and Mitigation Efforts
  • • Community Outreach Programs
  • • Other Aircraft Noise-Related Issues

Airport Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) Meetings

Curfew Violation Review Panel

The Airport Authority Board recognizes that neighborhoods surrounding San Diego International Airport are affected by noise from aircraft operations. San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Code 9.40, Airport Use Regulations at San Diego International Airport, contains certain Time of Day operational restrictions (The Curfew). The Code includes a mechanism for levying administrative penalties against operators who violate the Airport Use Regulations.

A Curfew Violation Review Panel (CVRP) evaluates and enforces compliance with the Airport Use Regulations, Time of Day Restrictions (The Curfew), and makes recommendations for the disposition of these incidents.

The Committee is composed of Airport Authority employees and consists of three members (or his/her designated representatives):

  1. Vice President, Operations
  2. Vice President, Development
  3. Vice President, Administration

Curfew Explained

“The Curfew” is a part of the Airport Use Regulations, formally adopted as SDCRAA Code 9.40, Airport Use Regulations. In the simplest of terms, “The Curfew” is the Time of Day Restriction that limits nighttime aircraft departures.

The following text has been excerpted from the Airport Use Regulations. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these regulations, please contact Airport Noise Mitigation at (619) 400-2660, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Time of Day Restrictions

  • Arrivals / All Aircraft – There are no noise-related Time of Day Restrictions on arriving aircraft. Arrivals are permitted 24-hours a day.
  • Engine Run-Ups – No person shall perform an engine run-up at a power setting above idle power between 11:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. (2330-0630L) local time, unless necessary to complete an Emergency/Mercy flight.
  • Nighttime Departures / All Aircraft– No person shall operate any aircraft scheduled or unscheduled on departure from the airport between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. (2330-0630L) local time unless they meet the exceptions criteria. This applies to all operations regardless of Category, Class, Type, or Noise Certification Level of the aircraft.
  • Stage 1 and Stage 2 Aircraft (including rotorcraft) – No person shall operate any aircraft on departure, or perform an engine run-up at a power setting above idle power, from the airport between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (2200-0700L) local time.

Exceptions

  • Emergency and Mercy Flights - Time of Day Restrictions shall not be applicable to any aircraft operation which is conducted in an Emergency or Mercy Flight Status. These flights shall be authorized in advance by the senior airport official on duty (typically the Airside Operations Duty Manager – who can be contacted during curfew hours through the Tower Controller by radio or by calling 619-400-2710). The operator must provide a written report with full details on the nature of such operation to the Aircraft Noise Mitigation office, no later than three (3) days after the occurrence. Please click here to access the Emergency/Mercy Flight Exemption form.
  • Engine Run-Ups – Engine Run-ups shall not be applicable when the run-up is necessary to allow an aircraft engaged in an emergency or mercy flight to comply with safety, legal, or regulatory obligations or requirements prior to commencing operation.

Administrative Penalties

All operators are subject to a fine for violation of these policies. The Curfew Violation Review Panel (CVRP) evaluates and enforces compliance with Airport Use Regulations, Time of Day Restrictions (curfew) and makes recommendations for the disposition of these incidents.

Fine Structure

The compliance period runs from January 1 through June 30 and July 1 through December 31 each year.

  • 1st offense per calendar 6-month compliance period: $2,000
  • 2nd offense per calendar 6-month compliance period: $6,000
  • 3rd offense per calendar 6-month compliance period: $10,000

Additionally, a multiplier will be added to reflect the number of violations during the previous compliance period. After the 3rd (or more) offense, the operating privileges of any operator may be terminated, or limited, on such terms and conditions, and for such period of time, as the Authority Board determines is appropriate.

Curfew Form

Program Description

The purpose of the San Diego International Airport’s (SDIA) Fly Quiet Program is to encourage commercial operators to operate as quietly as possible in the San Diego area by acknowledging those operators that attempt to follow the noise abatement goals of the airport. The program creates a participatory atmosphere of the operators working with the airport and community to actively reduce noise by grading an operator’s performance and by making the scores available to the public. The Fly Quiet Program offers a dynamic venue for reviewing noise abatement initiatives by praising and publicizing active participation rather than a system that admonishes violations from essentially voluntary procedures.

Scoring

Currently, the Fly Quiet Program scores commercial operators on the three most commonly voiced concerns from residents surrounding the airport, curfew violations, early turns and fleet noise quality. The higher the score, the quieter the operator is flying in and out of SDIA.

Fleet Noise Quality:

The Fleet (or type of aircraft an operator uses) Noise Quality score evaluates the noise contribution of each operator’s fleet as it actually operates at SDIA. Operators generally own a variety of aircraft types and schedule them according to both operational and marketing considerations. The Fly Quiet Program assigns a higher rating or grade to operators operating quieter, new generation aircraft, while operators operating older, louder technology aircraft would rate lower. The goal of this measurement is to fairly compare operators – not just by the fleet they own, but by the frequency that they schedule and fly particular aircraft into SDIA.

The method used here bases an operator’s Fleet Noise Quality Rating on established by the FAA’s 14 CFR Part 36 noise certification data. For each aircraft type, Part 36 specifies allowable noise levels at three measurement locations: approach, departure, and sideline. Part 36 allowable noise limits increase with weight, so that larger aircraft, serving more passengers, are not penalized as compared to smaller types. The rating method for the Fleet Noise Quality rating totals the difference between each aircraft’s certified noise levels at all three measuring points and the Stage 3 standard for that weight and number of engines. Aircraft with the greatest number of decibels below Stage 3 threshold are rated the best. Similar to and consistent with Part 36, the Fleet Noise Quality Rating allows for higher noise levels for larger aircraft. It is important to credit larger aircraft serving more passengers because they offer more air service in fewer flights and less total noise than multiple operations in smaller aircraft types.

Noise Exceedance:

Eliminating loud aircraft noise events is a long-standing goal of the Airport, as a result, the Airport has established an element that identifies the loudest aircraft operating at SDIA. The arrival and departure exceedances are captured at Daytime, Evening, and Nighttime levels. 

The locations of the Noise Monitoring Terminals (NMT’s) where exceedances are captured are as followed:

  • NMT #2 - Approximately 3.5-nautical miles (6.5km) along the departure path east of the airport. 
  • NMT #14 - Approximately 3.5-nautical miles (6.5km) along the departure path west of the airport, for straight-out departures. 
  • NMT #24 - Approximately 3.5-nautical miles (6.5km) along the departure corridor northwest of the airport, for right turn departures.

The Noise Exceedance Score for each operator is determined by adding the different categories of noise exceedances together and adjusting them to the number of operations to generate a score of up to ten (10) points. The current threshold settings are 90 dB for daytime departures (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.), 85 dB in the evening hours (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.), and 80 dB during nighttime hours (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.).

Curfew Violations:

SDIA has an existing curfew violations system in place as part of the Airport Use Regulations that may result in a monetary fine if an operator violates the curfew. An operator that does not log any curfew violations during the time period is automatically assigned a score of ten (10) points. If the Airport’s Curfew Violation Review Panel determines that a flight violated curfew and will be penalized, the score will be adjusted by subtracting two (2) points. If the Airport’s Curfew Violation Review Panel determines that a flight violated curfew and will not be penalized, the score will be adjusted by subtracting one (1) additional point. 

 

Fly Quiet Program Reports

Fly Quiet Program Report Archive

ROD 060717

Versions

1 6/12/2017 ROD 060717 44.2 KB

Airport Noise Advisory Committee (ANAC) Meetings

  • February 21, 2024 at 4:00 PM
  • May 15, 2024 at 4:00 PM
  • September 18, 2024 at 4:00 PM
  • November 20, 2024 at 4:00 PM

ANAC Meeting Location

Tin Goose Conference Room (1st floor)
2417 McCain Road, Administrative Offices
San Diego, CA 92101

ANAC Meetings & Agendas

PART 150 Update Meetings

Curfew Violation Review Panel (CVRP) Meetings

  • February 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM
  • March 27, 2024 at 2:00 PM
  • June 5, 2024 at 2:00 PM
  • August 7, 2024 at 2:00 PM
  • October 2, 2024 at 2:00 PM
  • December 4, 2024 at 2:00 PM

CVRP Meeting Location

Online via MS Teams

CVRP Latest Meeting Record of Decision (ROD)

CVRP Agenda

Program Description

The Portable Noise Monitoring Program allows members of community the opportunity to have short-term portable noise monitoring conducted at their home or place of business. The purpose of this Portable Noise Monitoring is to provide a report of noise levels and to help augment the data collected from the 23 permanent noise monitors.

How to Request Portable Monitoring

Residents may request via the link below:
Portable Noise Monitoring Application

Meeting the Technical Requirements

Once the Application is received, staff will contact the resident with a questionnaire to qualify the residence for noise monitoring. Priority will be given to those residents that have not had portable noise monitoring in their community. The monitoring location must also be secure to reduce the risk of equipment theft. Also, the residence must have an available outdoor power outlet to power the equipment. 

Sign the Portable Noise Monitoring Application and Agreement

Once the monitoring location meets technical requirements, the resident will be required to sign a Portable Noise Monitoring Application and Agreement, which outlines the use, distribution and availability of results, physical security of the equipment, utility power usage, and risk acceptance, amongst others.

Sample Portable Noise Monitoring Application and Agreement 

Appointments and Reporting

When the Portable Noise Monitoring Application and Agreement is received, staff will contact the resident to schedule two appointments: one to deploy and another to retrieve the monitoring equipment. The equipment will be set up on Monday and retrieved on Thursday of the following week, during business hours (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Within 30 days of the completion, a report will be generated and posted on our website.

Completed Portable Noise Monitoring Reports