Noise
Abatement Maps available on the airport's web site
Noise Abatement
Voluntary noise abatement program published as a Modesto Airport
Letter to Airman. (reprinted below)
Modesto Tower – LETTER TO AIRMAN No. 08-1
Effective Date: November 30, 2008
Subject: Informal Noise Abatement Procedures (VFR Only)
Cancellation Date: November 30, 2010
The City of Modesto has had an informal noise abatement program
in effect for quite sometime. Although enforcement of these procedures
is the responsibility of the City, the FAA’s position is
to cooperate and assist, whenever possible, to alleviate aircraft
noise problems. Consistent with safety, we all have an obligation
to provide as much noise relief as possible for our airport neighbors.
The following noise abatement procedures are recommended by the
City of Modesto for use by pilots during VFR conditions. These
procedures should be utilized to the fullest extent possible,
unless prevented by:
- Required distance from cloud criteria or other weather condition.
- Operating parameters of the aircraft involved.
- Traffic conditions or other safety factors.
Traffic Pattern Altitudes
- Recommended pattern altitudes: Single engine aircraft (excluding
Warbirds) 1,000’ MSL; all other aircraft 1,500’ MSL.
- Maintain traffic pattern altitude until turning base leg.
- Base leg or straight-in approach, maintain as high as possible
until commencing final descent.
Runway Selection
- Runway 28R/28L: Designated preferential calm wind runways due
to the published instrument approach courses.
- During calm wind conditions (less than 5 knots), departures
on runway 10L are encouraged for all large and jet aircraft, if
traffic and weather conditions permit.
Departure Procedures
- Runway 28L/10R: No turns until at least 600’ MSL and
beyond the airport boundary.
- Runway 28R/10L: No turns until at least 1,500’ MSL (s/e
aircraft 600’ MSL) and beyond the airport boundary.
- All aircraft use best rate of climb to 1,500’ MSL then,
if feasible, use reduced power setting while over residential
areas.
- Constant speed propeller driven and multi-engine aircraft are
requested to use full length.
Arrival Procedures
- When VASI/PAPI is operational, straight-in approaches should
remain at or above 1,500’ MSL until intercepting the VASI/PAPI.
- Remain at or above traffic pattern altitude as long as possible
over residential areas.
- Arrivals to runway 10L/10R are discouraged when wind conditions
are less than 5 knots.
- Conduct approaches as high as possible with minimum power required
to make a safe landing.
Touch and Go and Low Approaches
- These operations should be avoided between the hours of 10:00
p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and on holidays.
- When runway 10 is active, multi-engine touch and go operations
are discouraged.
- Military touch and go operations on any runway are discouraged.
- Practice instrument approaches should be restricted to 500’
MSL.
- Light single engine aircraft operating in right closed traffic
for runway 28R are encouraged to keep their pattern in close to
the field so as to remain over the industrial complex as much
as possible.
- “War Birds” are encouraged to use runway 28R.
Helicopters
- Avoid overflight of residential areas where possible.
- Climb to 500’ MSL over the airport before departing enroute.
- Remain at or above 500’ MSL until over the airport when
approaching to land.
General
- Turbojet operations should be discontinued during the hours
of 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Practicing emergency procedures, i.e., forced landing, single
engine work, etc. should be avoided over residential areas.
- No nighttime engine maintenance run-ups. (One-hour after sunset
until one-hour after sunrise)
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