Serving aviation demand, while managing aircraft noise is a challenge for all airports. Annoyance by aircraft noise is a very personal issue. Aircraft noise may impact one individual. While another individual may hardly notice the same noise.
The federal government regulates airport operations, airspace, and aircraft. The Airport is owned and operated by the City of Arlington. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates virtually all aspects of airport operations.
- The FAA requires that this Airport be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- The City cannot ban any specific type or size of aircraft from operating at the airport, based on noise levels.
- The City cannot establish any type of curfew without FAA approval. No airport curfews have been approved by the FAA in many years.
The FAA also manages the airspace, flight patterns, and minimum flight altitudes. Aircraft taking off and landing use flight paths established by the FAA. Generally aircraft operate at a minimum altitude of 1,000 ft. and 500 ft. for helicopters.
The reduction of aircraft noise has been a key goal of the FAA. The FAA classifies aircraft in different noise "Stages". Stage 1 aircraft are the noisiest. Stage 4 are the quietist. Effective Dec. 31, 2015, all civil jet aircraft, regardless of weight must meet Stage 3 or Stage 4 to fly within the contiguous United Stated. This includes all aircraft currently operating at Arlington Municipal.