NIGHTTIME RUNWAY USE PROGRAM

Reducing Nighttime Aircraft Noise is a key goal of SFO’s Nighttime Preferential Runway Use Program. The Program tries to maximize flights over water and minimize flights over land and populated areas between 1:00 am and 6:00 am. Fortunately, because airport activity levels are lower late at night, it is feasible to use water-facing departure procedures more frequently than would be possible during the day.

While the authority to control aircraft in flight at airports lies solely with the FAA, airports can recommend the use of certain runways for noise abatement purposes through the development of runway use programs*. At airports with multiple runways, a “preferential” runway use program may be developed establishing a specific use for landing or takeoff during certain times of day or night.

SFO’s Nighttime Preferential Runway Use program was developed in 1988. The program is voluntary; compliance is at the discretion of the pilot in command. Although the program cannot be used 100% of the time because of winds, weather, and other operational factors, the airport, the Community Roundtable, the FAA, and the airlines have all worked together to maximize utilization when conditions permit. Fly Quiet will provide additional information to help all the parties measure the success of this procedure.

SFO operates two sets of parallel runways for both arrivals and departures. The primary goal of the program is to use Runways 10 L/R for takeoff, because they offer over-the-bay routes, which minimize the noise footprint over populated areas. When that procedure is not possible, the secondary takeoff preference is to use Runways 28 L/R and follow the Shoreline Departure procedure. This procedure directs aircraft to make an early right turn on takeoff to avoid populated areas northwest of the airport noise abatement program**.

Nighttime Preferential Runway Use is a category that Fly Quiet uses to rate airlines adherence with the voluntary procedure.

* The noise metric used by the airport, and State of California, CNEL, traditionally weights both evening and late night noise more heavily to account for this added disturbance.
** FAA Order 8400.9 documents the safety and operational criteria for the development of Preferential Runways for noise abatement at U.S. airports.