Developing Programs That Minimize Noise Impacts On Surrounding Communities
For more than 40 years, the Port of Oakland has endeavored to develop programs that minimize noise impacts on surrounding communities. Noise abatement procedures (NAP) at Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) are based on the voluntary actions that air traffic controllers and pilots may take to help reduce the impacts of aircraft noise on communities adjacent to the airport. The airport has no authority over the movement of aircraft or the direction of flight. The authority to regulate flight patterns of aircraft is vested exclusively in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The following are general guidelines and techniques we ask operators to follow to help minimize the noise impact produced by aircraft in your area.
Preferential Departure Runway Use
Large Aircraft Restrictions on the North Field Runways
The North Field Preferential Runway Use noise abatement procedure program states that the following aircraft should not depart from Runways 28R/L except during emergencies, whenever Runways 12/30 are closed, or by any cause beyond the control of the Airport.
• Turbo-jet and turbo-fan powered aircraft.
• Turbo-props over 17,000 pounds.
• Four-engine reciprocating powered aircraft.
• Surplus military aircraft over 12,500 pounds.
*A corporate jet is defined as a jet aircraft whose typical activities are associated with the North Field facilities and services. This could include jet aircraft weighing over 75,000 lbs.
Please be aware that the pilot in command makes the final decisions relative to runway use; therefore, pilots may request to use any available runway. Neither the Airport nor the FAA air traffic controllers may restrict a pilot’s access to an available runway.
North Field Departure Procedures
North Field VFR Take Off Residential Avoidance
The North Field VFR (visual flight rules) noise abatement procedure is designed to minimize flights over residential areas of Alameda caused by departures from the North Field Runways.
Pilots are instructed to make a right turn over San Leandro Bay until reaching Interstate 880. A non-compliant departure is a VFR departure from Runways 28R/L or 33 that flies over specified residential areas when it may have been safe to follow the VFR noise abatement procedure.
North Field Nighttime Take Off Residential Avoidance
The North Field Quiet Hours Procedures were designed to minimize aircraft noise in residential areas adjacent to the North Field from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.
If the procedures are flown as intended, aircraft departing from Runways 28R/L or 33 will avoid flying over nearby residential areas on Bay Farm Island, the Fernside area of Alameda, and the Davis West/Timothy Drive area. Pilots are requested to follow these procedures when safety, weather, and ATC instructions permit.
South Field Departure Procedures
South Field Departures Residential Avoidance
Turbojet aircraft should not make a right turn on departure from Runway 30 and pass over Bay Farm Island. This noise abatement procedure is historically referred to as the “No Right Turn Climb-out Departure Procedure”.
South Field Departures Altitude Minimums
In addition, Runway 30 turbojet departures should not turn right over Alameda residential areas until reaching 3,000 feet above airport ground level.
South Field Nighttime Take Off Residential Avoidance
The HUSSH departure is an FAA (RNAV) departure procedure at OAK established to reduce noise in residential communities at nighttime. The HUSSH departure procedure is described as a turbojet aircraft take-off from Runway 30, climb heading 296 degrees to at or above 520 feet, then turn left direct to HUSSH. This departure procedure is assigned between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. for Runway 30 turbojet aircraft departures.
Please note that safety always takes precedence over noise abatement procedures and pilots must follow air traffic control instructions and other safety considerations caused by weather, potential air space conflicts, or emergencies.
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