AIRCRAFT NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES

PREFERENTIAL RUNWAYS
The SFO Nighttime Preferential Runway Use Program is a voluntary Program that was developed in 1988. SFO operates on two sets of parallel runways for both arrivals and departures. Based on this runway configuration, there are three preferred nighttime preferential runway procedures:

1) The primary goal of the Program is to use Runways 10 L/R for take-off because they offer departure routing over the bay which will reduce the noise impacts over the communities surrounding SFO.

2) When departures from Runways 10 L/R are not possible, the second preference would be to depart Runways 28 L/R on the Shoreline or Quiet Departure Procedures. Both of these Procedures incorporate an immediate right turn after departure to avoid residential communities northwest of SFO.

3) The third preference is to depart on Runways 01 L/R. While this procedure directs aircraft over the bay, jet blast from these departures affects communities south of SFO.

The least desirable departure procedure at SFO is a straight-out departure on Runways 28 L/R. These departures overfly densely populated communities immediately west of SFO and are discouraged at all hours. The Airport Director has established a Nighttime Noise Clearance Center operated during 10:00 pm to 7:00 am, by a duty officer whose responsibilities include monitoring compliance with SFO's Preferential Runway Use Program and responding to requests for exemptions to the noise regulations.

ENGINE RUN-UP RESTRICTIONS
Run-ups of mounted aircraft engines for maintenance or test purposes is prohibited between the hours of 10:00 pm to 7:00 am 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) An idle check of a single engine or multiple engines (checked separately) which will exceed a duration of five 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) Engines, when required, may be idled to accomplish compass checks on the compass rose located at the approach end of Runway 19R.

During the hours of 10:00 pm to 7:00 am, the Operations Supervisor shall be called and permission received prior to any engine idle check, compass 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 10:00 pm to 7:00 am, 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
(c) Aircraft identification number
(d) Location of the run-up
(e) Duration of the run-up
(f) An explanation of the unusual or emergency
(f) 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.