San Francisco Intl Airport

Airport Noise: We can Make A Difference

Aircraft Noise is noise pollution produced by any aircraft or its components, during various phases of a flight: on the ground while parked such a auxiliary power unit, while taxiing, on run-up from propeller and jet exhaust, during take off, underneath and lateral to departure and arrival paths, over-flights while en-route, or during landing.

The SFO ANAO fosters a noise abatement program that incorporates working with each stakeholder to reduce noise and educate the public regarding operations at the airport. The noise abatement program includes voluntary noise abatement procedures, the Fly Quiet Program, Residential Sound Insulation Program, and the ability to view live radar flight tracks in 3D on the Internet.

Program Goals
The overall goal of the Fly Quiet Program is to influence airlines to operate as quietly as possible in the San Francisco Bay Area. A successful Fly Quiet Program is expected to reduce both single event and total noise levels around the airport.

Program Elements
Currently, the Fly Quiet Program consists of five elements.

- The overall noise quality of each airlines’ fleet operating at SFO
- An evaluation of single overflight noise level exceedances
- A measure of how well each airline complies with the nighttime preferred noise abatement runways
- Assessment of how well each airline adheres to the Gap Departure
- Assessment of how well each airline adheres to the Shoreline Departure

With those measures in place, through a concerted effort, and by demonstrating your sensitivity to the concerns expressed by the community as it relates to airport noise, your relationship with those affected by airport noise can be significantly improved. But we must be willing to VOLUNTARILY take the steps necessary to be thoughtful to our fellow community members. Should voluntary efforts not be considered important to the airport, you may find your airport facing local legislation to fix the problem, and this solution isn’t always in the best interest of the airport or its users.

Operational Procedures

Arrivals**

Regardless of the time of day or type of approach for use, Runway 28 is the preferred arrival runway.

**Use preferred arrival routes as weather and traffic conditions permit.

STARs – Standard Terminal Arrivals

BIG SUR TWO
GOLDEN GATE SIX NEW
HADLY TWO
LOCKE ONE
MODESTO THREE
POINT REYES ONE
STINS TWO NEW
YOSEM ONE (RNAV)

Operational Procedures

Departures**

Between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. (0100-0600 LT), aircraft are expected to use noise abatement preferred runways whenever possible. Departure Runway preference is follows:-
A. Runway 10 L/R are the preferred runways for all operations.
B. Runway 28 L/R with an immediate right turn.
C. Runway 01 L/R departures
D. Runway 28 L/R straight-out departure discouraged at all hours

**Use preferred departure routes as weather and traffic conditions permit.

Departure Procedures

DUMBARTON SIX
EUGEN FIVE
GAP THREE
LUVVE THREE
MOLEN THREE
OFFSHORE FIVE
PORTE THREE
QUIET TWO
REBAS THREE (PROP)
SAN FRANCISCO EIGHT
SHORELINE ONE

NOTE: Special Take-Off Minimums/Departure Procedures apply download (40KB)

**

Departures
Daytime (0700-2200)
1st Preference: RWY 01 L/R
2nd Preference: RWY 28 L/R

Nighttime (2200-0700)
1st Preference: RWY 10L/R
2nd Preference: RWY 28 L/R on the Shoreline or Quiet Departure Procedures
3rd Preference: RWY 01 L/R

NIGHTTIME PREFERENTIAL RUNWAY USE RATING
Reducing nighttime noise ”especially sleep disturbance” is a key goal of SFO’s aircraft noise abatement program. SFO’s Nighttime Preferential Runway Use program, developed in 1988, aims to maximize flights over water and minimize flights over land and populated areas between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM, thus reducing nighttime noise in the airport surrounding communities.

Arrivals:

Daytime(0700-2200)
Preferred : RWY 28L/R
Quiet Bridge Visual 28 R/L

Nighttime (2200-0700)
Preferred : RWY 28L/R
Quiet Bridge Visual 28 R/L

*Use preferred runways as weather and traffic conditions permit.

ILS OR LOC RWY 28R
ILS RWY 28R(CAT II)
ILS RWY 28R(CAT III)
RNAV (GPS) Z RWY 28R
RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 28R
LDA/DME RWY 28R
LDA PRM RWY 28R (SIM CLOSE PAR)
QUIET BRIDGE VISUAL RWYS 28L/R
TIPP TOE VISUAL RWY 28L
NOTE: Special Alternate Minimums apply

No restrictions on ‘Landing for use’ of thrust reverses, However aircraft that have non-wing mounted engines are certified by the FAA to “power-back” from gates that the airline & FAA have surveyed and where it can be safely allowed

None. Touch and Goes are restricted for General Aviation Aircraft, with the exception of Helicopter operations.**

**91.119 Minimum safe altitudes:

General Helicopters.

Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.

Intersection Departure on Runway 28 at Intersection ‘E’ [echo], Only at controllers discretion.

Operators are encouraged to use 400Hz ground power and pre-conditioned air sources whenever practicable. Auxiliary Power Units may be used when aircraft are being towed.

At Domestic terminals the use of APUs is prohibited between 2200-0600 except 30 minutes prior to departure, when passengers are aboard, or if it is needed to test other aircraft equipment.

At the International Terminal

Aircraft scheduled to be at a gate in Boarding Areas A and G for more than 45 minutes between 0700 and 2200 are required to use 400Hz ground power and pre-conditioned air, where available. APUs are not authorized without prior permission from Airport Operations, during the use of pre-conditioned air until 30 minutes prior to push-back.

All aircraft scheduled to be at a gate between 2200 and 0700 are required to use 400Hz ground power and preconditioned air, where available regardless of duration at the gate. APUs are not authorized without prior permission from Airport Operations, during the use of ground power and pre-conditioned air until 30 minutes prior to push-back.

Run-ups are prohibited between 2200-0700 except as noted here:

- An idle check of a single engine not to exceed 5 minutes in duration may be conducted in the specific airline lease hold area. If more than one engine is to be checked each engine must be checked separately and the cumulative duration of the idle checks cannot exceed five minutes
- An idle check of a single engine or multiple engines (checked separately) which will exceed five minutes in duration will be accomplished in the designated run-up. For purposes of noise abatement monitoring this will be considered a power run-up.
- Engines, when required, may be idled to accomplish compass checks on the compass rose located at the approach end of RWY 19R

The SFO Class B is open to VFR, with the following caveats:

- NEWS REPORTING, TRAFFIC WATCH, CIVIL AIRCRAFT BANNER TOWING, SIGHTSEEING (IN ROTORCRAFT AND AIRPLANES) CONDUCTED FOR COMPENSATION OR HIRE (UNDER PART 91, PURSUANT TO THE EXCEPTION IN 119.1(E)(2)), AND AIRSHIP/BLIMP OPERATIONS are still not allowed,

- Use a transponder (or get permission not to ahead of time),

- Monitor 121.5, if you can, and

- VFR PILOTS IN “ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE” ARE ENCOURAGED TO OPERATE THEIR AIRCRAFT IN A NORMAL MANNER, AVOIDING AEROBATICS, LOITERING OR CIRCLING, AND UNPREDICTABLE FLIGHT PATHS (student pilots beware! -ed). PILOTS ARE URGED TO CHECK NOTICES TO AIRMEN (NOTAMS) AND CALL THE LOCAL FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AT 1-800-WX-BRIEF PRIOR TO EACH FLIGHT.

- Touch and Goes are restricted at SFO

Airport/Community Roundtable
The Airport/Community Roundtable was established in 1981 as a voluntary committee to address community noise impacts from aircraft operations at San Francisco International Airport. The Roundtable monitors a performance-based noise mitigation program implemented by airport staff, interprets community concerns and attempts to achieve noise mitigation through a cooperative sharing of authority among the aviation industry, the Federal Aviation Administration, SFO management and local government.

The authority to control aircraft in flight and on the ground is vested exclusively in the FAA. The FAA, however, cannot control the number of flights nor the time of day of aircraft operations. Federal law preempts any local government agency from implementing any action that is intended to control the routes of aircraft in flight. Neither the Roundtable, local elected officials nor airport management can control the routes of aircraft in flight or on the ground.
Every quarter the SFO Airport Director, John Martin, reports to the Airport Community Roundtable on the Fly Quiet Program and presents the results for the previous quarter.Meetings are held once every quarter. For More Info on the Roundtable, use link below:
http://www.sforoundtable.org/index.html

Residential/Community Sound Insulation Program

SFO has one of the most extensive home insulation programs in the nation. Dating from 1983, over 15,000 homes, 8 churches and 7 schools have been treated in six geographic areas: County of San Mateo, Daly City, Millbrae, Pacifica, San Bruno and South San Francisco. The total program expenditure now amounts to over $153 million. The program is administered directly by the local jurisdictions which decide in what order eligible properties will be treated. Methods include: first come first served, lottery, and noisiest first. Localities also determine whether or not to include public buildings, multi-family residential buildings and/or rental properties. In all cases, the program is funded through a combination of FAA and airport funds distributed through the airport. FAA guidelines set the standard for eligibility for federal funds as noise sensitive properties within the federally-approved 65 dB CNEL annual noise contour.

STAGE 2 RESTRICTIONS Stage 2 airplanes >75,000 lbs are prohibited from operating at airports within the 48 contiguous states.

STAGE 2 PHASEOUT U.S. Stage 2 Phase out complete as of 12/31/1999 (CFR Part 91.801). Stage 2 airplanes >75,000 lbs are prohibited from operating at airports within the 48 contiguous states.

YES. As of January 2005, the Airport installed a new Aircraft Noise Management System utilizing Lochard’s Airport Noise and Operations Monitoring System (ANOMS) 8 product suite. The previous passive radar system was replaced with Lochard’s new hybrid, SkyTrak, an integration of the FAA ARTS IIIE and live Mode S with passive radar that drives the SFO community web site and delivers flight data throughout the airport.

RULE 11.0
NOISE ABATEMENT REGULATION
11.1 PURPOSE
The Airport Commission of the City and County of San Francisco (“Commission”)
promulgates this regulation to provide for a continual reduction of cumulative noise
resulting from aircraft operations at San Francisco International Airport (“SFIA”) in
accordance with the Commission’s authority as proprietor of SFIA, the Charter of the City
and County of San Francisco, and the provisions of Title 21, Sub-chapter 6 of the
California Administrative Code, while allowing SFIA to continue its historic function as the
leading gateway to the Pacific, as a vital contributor to a strong and growing economy,
and as a major source of employment for the Bay Area. Airport Commission Resolution
#88-0016 provides for the administration of the Airport’s Noise Abatement Program and
has been amended as follows: Effective July 16, 1991 by Resolution No. 91-0099,and on
July 7, 1992 by Resolution No. 92-0202 and on December 7, 1993 by Resolution No. 93-
0248 and on January 17,1995 by Resolution No.95-0015 and on November 20, 2001 by
Resolution No. 01-0354.
11.2 EFFECTIVE DATE
This regulation shall become effective upon its adoption by resolution of the Commission,
pursuant to the powers and duties vested in the Commission by Section 3.691 of the
Charter of the City and County of San Francisco, and shall remain in effect until amended
or repealed.
11.3 DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in Rule 11, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.
(A) “Aircraft” – all subsonic transport category large airplanes, subsonic turbojet
powered airplanes and supersonic transport category airplanes, which were ever
certificated or recertificated at a maximum gross takeoff weight in excess of
75,000 lbs., whether certificated or recertificated by the United States or by a
foreign country.
(B) “Operation” – an aircraft landing or takeoff.
© “Operator” – an entity that exercises operational control over an aircraft.
Operational control includes, among other matters, control over scheduling,
routes, or choices of aircraft.
(D) “Preferential Runway Use Program” – written procedures concerning the
performance of operations at SFIA to minimize the noise impact of such operations,
applicable when air safety, air traffic, and meteorological conditions permit.
(E) “Preferred Departure Procedure” – an aircraft operating procedure, approved
by either the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the International Council
Aeronautical Organization (ICAO), to be used to reduce noise impacts during the
initial phase of flight.
81
(F) “Stage 2 Aircraft” – an aircraft that is certificated by the FAA as complying with
the noise levels prescribed in 14 C.F.R. Part 36, Appendix C, Section 36.5(a)(2), or
is certificated in accordance with Chapter 2 of Annex 16 to Article 37 of the
International Civil Aviation Organization Convention.
(G) “Stage 3 Aircraft” – an aircraft that is certificated by the FAA as complying with
the noise levels prescribed in 14 C.F.R. Part 36, Appendix C, Section 36.5(a)(3),
or is certificated in accordance with Chapter 3 of Annex 16 to Article 37 of the
International Civil Aviation Organization Convention.
11.4 REGULATION
(A) Stage 3 Requirement for Aircraft
Upon the effective date of this regulation, an aircraft will be permitted to commence
or continue operation at SFIA only if it is a Stage 3 aircraft.
(B) Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
Operators are encouraged to use ground power and air sources whenever practicable. APU’s may be used when aircraft are being towed.
(1) At domestic terminals, the use of APU’s is prohibited between the hours
of 2200 – 0600 except 30 minutes prior to departure, when passengers
are aboard, or it is needed to test other aircraft equipment.
(2) At the International Terminal, the following procedures apply:
(a) Aircraft scheduled to be at a gate in Boarding Areas A and G for
more than 45 minutes between the hours of 0700 – 2200, are
required to use 400Hz ground power and pre-conditioned air,
where available. APU’s are not authorized without prior
permission from Airport Operations, during the use of ground
power and pre-conditioned air until 30 minutes prior to push-back.
(b) All aircraft scheduled to be at a gate between 2200 – 0700 hours
are required to use 400Hz ground power and pre-conditioned air,
where available, regardless of the duration at the gate. APU’s are
not authorized without prior permission from Airport Operations,
during the use of ground power and pre-conditioned air until 30
minutes prior to push-back.
c) Aircraft Engine Run-ups
Run-ups of mounted aircraft engines for maintenance or test purposes are
prohibited between the hours of 2200 – 0700 daily except as provided below:
(1) An idle check of a single engine is allowed under the following conditions:
(a) An idle check of a single engine not to exceed a 5-minute duration
may be conducted in the lease hold area. If more than one engine
is to be checked, each engine must be checked separately and the
cumulative duration of the idle checks cannot exceed 5-minutes.
(b) Idle checks of a single engine or multiple engines (checked
separately) which will exceed a duration of 5-minutes will be
accomplished in the designated run-up areas. For purposes of noise
abatement monitoring, this will be considered a power run-up.
(2) During the hours of 2200 – 0700, the Operations Supervisor shall be
called and permission received prior to any engine idle check or engine
idle run-up, including any idle run for more than a cumulative duration of
5-minutes.
During other hours, the Operations Supervisor shall be called and
permission received prior to any engine run-up.
Any request for an engine run-up during the hours 2200 – 0700, other than that described above, which is the result of unusual or emergency circumstances, may be approved by the Nighttime Noise Clearance Center. When approved and accomplished, the Maintenance Supervisor of the airline concerned must provide to the Airport Director a monthly
report detailing the following:
(a) Date and time of the run-up
(b) Type of aircraft
© Aircraft identification number
(d) Location of the run-up
(e) Duration of the run-up
(f) An explanation of the unusual or emergency circumstances
making the run-up necessary
Reports will be submitted to the Airport Director, Attn: Airport Operations
within three working days after the last day of each calendar month.
(D) Noise Abatement Procedures
To reduce the impacts of aircraft noise in surrounding communities, particularly
between the hours of 2300 and 0700, the Airport encourages the use of the
following procedures.
(1) Depart on Runway 10.
(2) When departing on Runway 28L/R, use the Shoreline Departure
procedure whenever possible.
(3) When departing straight cut on Runway 28L/R use the appropriate ICAO
A or AC 91-53A noise abatement climb procedure for communities close
to the airport.
(4) Use the Quiet Bridge Approach to Runway 28L/R.
(E) Sanctions
Violations of any provision of this regulation shall be punishable in the following
manner:
(1) 1st violation in a twelve- Letter of admonishment from
month period the Airport Director
(2) 2nd violation in a twelve- A fine in the amount of $1,000.
month period
(3) 3rd violation in a twelve- A fine in the amount of $2,000.
month period
(4) Additional violations in a A fine in the amount of $3,000.
twelve-month period
(F) Variances
(1) Upon the effective date of this regulation, requests by operators for a
variance from any provision of this regulation must be made in writing to
the Airport Director at least 60 days prior to the date the requested
variance. Every request for a variance shall be reviewed by the Airport
Director or his designated representative. Among other factors, the noise
impact on the surrounding community and the fairness to other operators,
which are in compliance with this regulation, shall be considered in
determining whether a variance should be granted.
(2) The Airport Director shall notify the operator in writing whether a variance
is granted and include any instructions or restrictions pertaining to the waiver.
(G) Nighttime Noise Clearance Center
The Airport Director shall establish a Nighttime Noise Clearance Center operated
during nighttime hours by a duty officer whose responsibilities will include
monitoring compliance with the Airport’s preferential runway use program and
responding to requests for exemptions.

11.5 CONSTRUCTION OF THE REGULATION

References in this regulation to Federal Aviation Regulations, 14 C.F.R. Part 36, are not
intended to incorporate into this regulation the construction, regulatory purpose or specific
application given by the Federal Aviation Administration or any court to those provisions.
This regulation is designed to accomplish distinct regulatory goals dictated by the peculiar
local conditions existing at SFIA. The Commission shall be the final authority on the
interpretation, regulatory purpose, and application of all aspects of this regulation to all
aircraft seeking permission to commence operation or to continue operation at SFIA.

11.6 SEVERABILITY

If any portion of this regulation or if any application of this regulation is held unconstitutional
or otherwise unlawful, the remainder of this regulation and the remaining applications of this
regulation shall not be affected thereby.

11.7 REPEAL

Commission Resolution 78-0131 and all Airport Operations Bulletins (AOB) issued
thereunder are repealed as of the effective date of this regulation. In addition, the
following AOB’s are also repealed:
84-07 AOB Noise Abatement Regulation
85-06 AOB Aircraft Engine Run-ups
85-07 AOB Noise Abatement Regulation
88-01 AOB Maintenance Exemption from SFO Noise Regulation
88-02 AOB Variance Procedures
88-03 AOB Preferential Runway Use
88-04 AOB Implementation of Noise Regulation
88-07 AOB Reporting Requirements of Noise Regulation
90-06 AOB Auxiliary Power Units
91-02 AOB New Scheduled Operations between 2300 and 0700 hours
92-02 AOB Late Night Stage 2 Operations
93-01 AOB Operation of Stage 2 Aircraft between 2300 and 0700
93-03 AOB Percentage Stage 3 Requirement
98-05 AOB Percentage Stage 3 Requirement
98-06 AOB International Operators Percentage Stage 3 Requirement
99-03 AOB Operation of Stage 2 Aircraft between 1900 and 0700 hours
01-02 AOB Gate Restrictions for Auxiliary Power Units (APU)

ANOMS

SFO maintains a state-of-the-art permanent noise monitoring system to keep track of noise levels in communities around the airport. There are 29 permanent monitors located around the Bay Area, 4 portable units and 4 Ground Run-up monitors with cameras.

Auxiliary power unit operating restrictions
All aircraft scheduled to be at a gate between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. are required to use 400Hz ground power and preconditioned air, where available regardless of duration at the gate. APUs are not authorized without prior permission from Airport Operations, during the use of ground power and pre-conditioned air until 30 minutes prior to push-back.

Each year the Jon C. Long Fly Quiet Awards recognize those airlines that made improvements in three award categories: The Most Improved, The Quietest Flier and The Chairperson’s Award.

Program Elements

- Overall noise quality of each airline fleet operating at SFO
- An evaluation of single overflight noise level exceedances
- A measure of how well each airline complies with the nighttime preferred noise abatement runways
- Assessment of how well each airline adheres to the Gap Departure
- Assessment of how well each airline adheres to the Shoreline Departure