PARTNERS THAT WORK WITH SFO

Running an airport requires several organizations, including the Federal Aviation Administration, various airlines and pilots, in addition to the airport staff. This section describes the roles and responsibilities of each of these groups.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The FAA is responsible for directing the movement of aircraft both on the ground and in the air. The FAA designs air travel routes and procedures, including defining separation distances between aircraft, determining hazards to aviation, and other safety criteria governing both airports and aircraft. All air traffic controllers work for the FAA as part of one national airspace system. Although other aviation organizations including airports and airlines may petition the FAA regarding flight procedures, only the FAA can finally determine what is safe and acceptable, and only FAA controllers may assign a flight procedure to a pilot.

Airports

Airports, generally a unit of state or local government, are responsible for the construction and maintenance of the physical facilities. As a department of the City of San Francisco, SFO is also the closest point of contact with the community, and the SFO Aircraft Noise Abatement Office is responsible for creating, explaining and implementing noise abatement programs within its jurisdiction. These programs include monitoring preferential runway use and noise abatement flight tracks designed to minimize flights over residential and other sensitive areas. All preferential runway use programs and noise abatement flight tracks must be approved and are implemented by FAA.

Airlines

Airlines own and operate aircraft and decide destinations, schedules and fares. The size, age, type and routes of individual aircraft are important factors in runway use. Specifically the length of runway needed for both arrivals and departures is a function of how heavy a plane is, and that, in turn, is a function of its size, passenger, cargo and fuel loads and distance to destination. The heaviest, long distance aircraft, typically flights to Asia, often require the longest runway for departure.

Pilots

As the person in charge of operating the aircraft, the pilot has ultimate responsibility. Although each airline sets operating standards, and the FAA assigns the runway, flight track and altitude, the pilot still maintains authority to make a final judgment. For example, a pilot may refuse to accept a runway assignment and choose a longer runway if the aircraft is particularly heavy. Generally though, pilots adhere to runway assignments and noise abatement flight tracks for both departures and arrivals.