Half Moon Bay Airport
Half Moon Bay, California, United States
Noise Abatement Information - Last update 12/12/2019
Overview
Half Moon Bay Airport is surrounded by many noise sensitive areas. By using your aircraft’s quietest departure techniques and following the guidelines below, we can reduce the noise impacts on our neighbors.
Mandatory Restrictions
All Runways | All Aircraft Categories | Arrival & Departure
Right traffic Runway 30.
Left traffic Runway 12.
Aircarft over 12,500lbs. prohibited without prior approval of the Airport Manager.
National Marine Santuary restrictions regarding low level overflights are in effect. Please reference aeronautical charts for more information.
Curfews
All Runways | All Aircraft Categories | Arrival & Departure
Pattern work, especially touch-and-gos are discouraged on weekend and holiday mornings.
Images / Diagrams
All Runways | All Aircraft Categories | Arrival & Departure
Half Moon Bay Noise Abatement Handout - Front
All Runways | All Aircraft Categories | Arrival & Departure
Half Moon Bay Noise Abatement Handout - Back
Arrivals
All Runways | All Aircraft Categories | Arrival Only
Avoid straight in arrivals unless on an instrument approach.
Maintain pattern altitude until necessary to descend for landing.
Arrivals from the west fly overhead the airport at or above 1,500 MSL; continue outbound until clear of the traffic pattern and make a 45 degree entry into the downwind leg at 1,000 MSL.
Departures
All Runways | All Aircraft Categories | Departure Only
No turns until reaching 500’ MSL
Preferential Runways
All Aircraft Categories | Arrival & Departure
Please use runway 12 when wind permits.
Pattern Altitudes
ALL VALUES ARE MSL (FEET)
All Runways | All Aircraft Categories
1,000 MSL
Intersection Takeoffs
All Runways | All Aircraft Categories
No intersection takeoffs.
Flight Training
No stop-and-goes.
Pattern work, especially touch-and-goes, is discouraged at night and on weekend and holiday mornings.
Stage II
Aircarft over 12,500lbs. prohibited without prior approval of the Airport Manager.
Stage III
Aircarft over 12,500lbs. prohibited without prior approval of the Airport Manager.
Prior Permission (PPR) Operations
Aircarft over 12,500 lbs. prohibited without prior approval of the Airport Manager.
Airport Contact Info
Name: | Gretchen Kelly, Airport Manager |
---|---|
Phone: | 650-573-3701 |
Noise Hotline: | 650-728-1203 |
Fax: | 650-728-2014 |
Email: | airports@smcgov.org |
Web Address: | https://publicworks.smcgov.org/airports |
Noise Complaint Address: | https://www.planenoise.com/sanmateo/tY5Ru4wa/ |
Address: | 9850 Cabrillo Hwy North Half Moon Bay CA 94019 |
NBAA Procedures
AOPA Noise Awareness Steps
Following are some general guidelines and techniques to minimize the noise impact produced by aircraft operating near the ground.
1. If practical, avoid noise-sensitive areas such as residential areas, open-air assemblies (e.g. sporting events and concerts), and national park areas. Make every effort to fly at or above 2,000 feet over the surface of such areas when overflight cannot be avoided.
2. Consider using a reduced power setting if flight must be low because of cloud cover or overlying controlled airspace or when approaching the airport of destination. Propellers generate more noise than engines; flying with the lowest practical rpm setting will reduce the aircraft's noise level substantially.
3. Perform stalls, spins, and other practice maneuvers over uninhabited terrain.
4. Many airports have established specific noise abatement procedures. Familiarize yourself and comply with these procedures.
5. To contain aircraft noise within airport boundaries, avoid performing engine runups at the ends of runways near housing developments. Instead, select a location for engine runup closer to the center of the field.
6. On takeoff, gain altitude as quickly as possible without compromising safety. Begin takeoffs at the start of a runway, not at an intersection.
7. Retract the landing gear either as soon as a landing straight ahead on the runway can no longer be accomplished or as soon as the aircraft achieves a positive rate of climb. If practical, maintain best-angle-of-climb airspeed until reaching 50 feet or an altitude that provides clearance from terrain or obstacles. Then accelerate to best-rate-of-climb airspeed. If consistent with safety, make the first power reduction at 500 feet.
8. Fly a tight landing pattern to keep noise as close to the airport as possible. Practice descent to the runway at low power settings and with as few power changes as possible.
9. If a VASI or other visual approach guidance system is available, use it. These devices will indicate a safe glidepath and allow a smooth, quiet descent to the runway.
10. If possible, do not adjust the propeller control for flat pitch on the downwind leg; instead, wait until short final. This practice not only provides a quieter approach, but also reduces stress on the engine and propeller governor.
11. Avoid low-level, high-power approaches, which not only create high noise impacts, but also limit options in the event of engine failure.
12. Flying between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. should be avoided whenever possible. (Most aircraft noise complaints are registered by residents whose sleep has been disturbed by noisy, low-flying aircraft.)
Note: These recommendations are general in nature; some may not be advisable for every aircraft in every situation. No noise reduction procedure should be allowed to compromise safety.
Temporary Information (None)
None
Preferential Instrument Procedures (None)
None
Reverse Thrust (No Restrictions)
No restrictions
APU Use (No Restrictions)
No restrictions
Engine Runup (No Restrictions)
No restrictions
Community Groups/Info (None)
None
Flight Track Monitoring (None)
None
Noise Ordinance (None)
None
Noise Monitoring (None)
None
Airport Maps
Airport Contact
Name: | Gretchen Kelly, Airport Manager |
---|---|
Phone: | 650-573-3701 |
Noise: | 650-728-1203 |
Fax: | 650-728-2014 |
Address: |
9850 Cabrillo Hwy North Half Moon Bay CA 94019 |
Weather Data

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Airport Data
Elevation: | 66 ft |
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City: | Half Moon Bay, California, United States |
Sectional Chart: | San Francisco |
Flight Service: | Oakland FSS |
Wind Indicator: | Yes |
Fuel: | 100LL |