Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a noise abatement procedure?
2. What noise abatement procedures are in use at PIE?
3. When are the noise abatement procedures used?
4. Are noise abatement procedures optional?
5. Why don't military aircraft follow noise abatement procedures?
6. Why aren't noise abatement procedures used at night?
7. What determines which direction aircraft will fly in and out of the airport?
8. Why don't the airlines always fly over the Bay instead of over residential neighborhoods?
9. Is there a minimum altitude airplanes can fly over residential areas?
10. Is there a minimum altitude helicopters can fly over residential areas?
11. Why doesn't the Airport require pilots to fly at higher altitudes or routes directing them over on-residential areas?
12. What is the Airport doing to decrease noise over residential areas?
13. Why doesn't the airport close at night?
14. How is compliance with the noise abatement procedures enforced?
15. I want to make a complaint about an aircraft, who can I call?
1. What is a noise abatement procedure?
A noise abatement procedure is a flight procedure used/intended to minimize the noise exposure over residential areas. A noise abatement procedure includes instructions pilots use for performing an approach and landing at an airport or during take-off and departure from an airport. Noise abatement procedures may not be implemented without FAA approval.
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2. What noise abatement procedures are in use at PIE?
Currently, there are three noise abatement procedures used at PIE. Based on requirements imposed by the FAA, the published procedures apply to air carrier aircraft only. Airlines arriving from the north use the North Bay Visual Approach. Airlines departing to the north or south use the St. Pete-2 Departure procedures. For more information about the Airport's noise abatement procedures, click here.
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3. When are the noise abatement procedures used?
The North Bay Visual Approach may be used between sunrise and sunset daily (daylight hours only). The FAA limits the use of the North Bay Visual Approach to daylight hours due to safety concerns. FAA also prohibits the use of this procedure during poor weather and/or instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) due to safety concerns. The St. Pete-2 Departure procedures may be used at any time, day or night and are less sensitive to weather conditions.
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4. Are noise abatement procedures optional?
The noise abatement procedures are required for use by airline aircraft (turbojet aircraft with a maximum gross weight of 60,000 lbs. or greater). Deviations may occur to avoid hazardous weather, conflicting air traffic, or due to safety concerns. Pilots and air traffic controllers maintain the authority to deviate from published noise abatement procedures as required.
In an effort to reduce noise over residential areas, the Airport as a policy, requires airlines to follow the noise abatement procedures. Deviations from these procedures occur and when they do, the deviation is investigated. The Airport is working closely with the local airlines to ensure compliance with noise abatement and mitigation efforts. Our airlines have all made a commitment to continue to follow these procedures whenever possible.
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5. Why don't military aircraft follow noise abatement procedures?
The noise abatement procedures used at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport were subject to FAA approval prior to implementation. As part of their approval, the FAA specified that these procedures apply only to air carrier, turbojet aircraft with a certified gross weight of 60,000 lbs or greater.
Aircraft with a certified gross weight of less than 60,000 lbs are not required to use the noise abatement procedures. The majority of military aircraft operating in and out of the Airport are C-130 Hercules (fixed-wing aircraft) and H-60 Blackhawk (helicopters). Neither of these aircraft meet the specifications imposed by FAA.
Though the Coast Guard and US Army are not required to follow noise abatement procedures (based on FAA mandate), they have implemented procedures that minimize the noise impact on areas surrounding the Airport. Both the US Coast Guard and US Army are committed to minimizing aircraft noise as much as is practical while still fulfilling their operational requirements and safety standards. The Airport is working closely with the USCG and the US Army to foster this relationship and to establish procedures which will allow both organizations to fulfill their mission while helping the Airport remain a good neighbor.
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6. Why aren't noise abatement procedures used at night?
The FAA approved the North Bay Visual Approach, however they limit use to daylight hours only. This limitation is due to safety concerns associated with maneuvering over Tampa Bay at night. The St. Pete-2 Departure procedures are used by airlines departing to the north and south. The FAA has not imposed time-of-day restrictions on the use of the St. Pete-2 Departure. This allows the airlines to utilize these departure procedures day or night, however, poor weather conditions, conflicting air traffic and other safety concerns may require the airlines or air traffic control to deviate from these procedures.
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7. What determines which direction aircraft will fly in and out of the airport?
Aircraft take-off and land into the prevailing winds. FAA Air Traffic Control determines which runway will be used (based on wind and other weather conditions).
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8. Why don't the airlines always fly over the Bay instead of over residential neighborhoods?
With FAA approval, the Airport has implemented noise abatement procedures which require inbound and outbound airline flights over the waters of Tampa Bay instead of flying over residential neighborhoods. Deviations may occur due to inclement weather, conflicting air traffic and other safety concerns. Prior to landing or take-off, air traffic controllers direct airlines to follow the noise abatement procedures. For more information, see the PIE Noise Abatement Procedures page.
Airports do not have the authority to control aircraft in flight. This authority is maintained by the FAA and pilot-in-command. Specific flight paths are determined based on several factors including weather conditions as well as other air traffic flying in and out of St. Petersburg-Clearwater International and Tampa International Airports.
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9. Is there a minimum altitude airplanes can fly over residential areas?
Based on FAA regulations, airplanes must maintain a minimum altitude of 1,000 feet when operating over congested areas or densely populated areas. This requirement does not apply when aircraft are landing or taking-off.
(Source: Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 91.119)
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10. Is there a minimum altitude helicopters can fly over residential areas?
Based on FAA regulations, helicopters are not subject to a minimum altitude restriction provided operation of the helicopter is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the ground.
(Source: Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 91.119)
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11. Why doesn't the Airport require pilots to fly at higher altitudes or routes directing them over non-residential areas?
Airports do not dictate altitude or flight paths of aircraft. This authority is held only by the FAA and the pilot-in-command. Neither the Airport nor Pinellas County have the authority to control air traffic. Routing for noise abatement has been implemented by the Airport with the approval of FAA and is used by air traffic control when directing airline aircraft.
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12. What is the Airport doing to decrease noise over residential areas?
The Airport has several programs in place to decrease noise over residential areas. Noise abatement procedures have been implemented and are monitored for compliance. The Airport also restricts certain nighttime operations to reduce noise. (Click here for restricted nighttime operations). The airport is working closely with the military, corporate, and general aviation to further reduce aircraft noise over residential areas.
The Airport is working with the airlines to limit the number of arrivals and departures which occur during the early morning and late night time periods. (11:00 P.M. through 6:00 A.M.). Though the Airport is prohibited from imposing a nighttime curfew or ban on nighttime operations, the airlines have agreed to reduce the number of flights scheduled during these hours.
The Aircraft Noise Abatement Task Force was created to promote communication between the Airport, airlines, airport users, the military, and the communities surrounding the airport.
Other programs including the "PIE Fly Friendly" program are under development. The PIE Fly Friendly program will focus on educating corporate, military and general aviation pilots in the need for noise abatement and quiet flight operations over residential areas.
The proximity to residential areas makes some level of exposure to aircraft noise inevitable. That said, the Airport is working hard to minimize aircraft noise exposure as much as possible, while still serving the needs of Pinellas County.
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13. Why doesn't the airport close at night?
The Airport Noise and Capacity Act passed in 1990, limits the restrictions public-use airports can impose on aircraft operations. Following this act, all use- restrictions, including curfews, must be approved by the FAA.
Since 1990, no airport within the United States has had a curfew approved by the FAA. The only airports with operational curfews are those that were in effect prior to 1990 when the regulations were changed. Curfews in effect prior to the regulatory change were permitted to remain in effect.
The Airport is working with the airlines to reduce/limit the number of flight operations scheduled between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. daily. All airlines serving the airport have agreed to comply with this request whenever possible.
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14. How is compliance with the noise abatement procedures enforced?
When observed or reported, air carrier deviations are investigated by Airport Operations. The Airport first must determine the cause of the deviation. If it is determined that the deviation was not authorized (due to safety concerns), the Airport contacts the organization responsible, (Airline Chief Pilot or Air Traffic Control), to advise them of the unauthorized deviation and to ensure the personnel involved are retrained and reminded of the importance of noise abatement procedures. In either case, contact is made with the company or organization and a report filed with the appropriate department and/or supervisor to ensure the violation is not repeated. The Airport remains committed to promoting compliance with noise abatement and mitigation efforts, including the use of published noise abatement procedures whenever possible.
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15. I want to make a complaint about an aircraft, who can I call?
Aircraft noise complaints may be reported to the Airport by calling the Aircraft Noise Hotline at (727) 453-7877. If you prefer, you may submit your complaint using the Aircraft Noise Complaint Form.
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