McClellan-Palomar Airport FAQs

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• Foreword

  Jurisdiction of the various subjects addressed in this Q & A are divided between several organizations, each having authority over different aspects of aviation.  The County is prohibited by the Federal Government from controlling or regulating aircraft flight operations at Palomar Airport; however, airport staff receive noise complaints and compile noise data that is available to the FAA, the California Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics, the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC) and the community to aid land use planning, recognize trends, and support communication between the community and pilots.  VNAP noise reduction information is non- directive and not allowed to compromise Air Traffic Controller instructions or flight safety.  The County of San Diego is the owner of Palomar Airport and, under regulation by the FAA, provides for the safe operation of the airport surface facilities.  While the County Airports are concerned with the safety of aviation and strive continuously to meet all safety requirements within its jurisdiction on the airport surface, County Airports do not have authority over aircraft in flight which is reserved to the FAA.

• For safety and quality of life, why doesn’t the County of San Diego prohibit aircraft from flying over residential areas including schools and churches?

  The County of San Diego is the owner and sponsor of the Palomar Airport, and under regulation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the County provides for the safe operation of the airport surface facilities.  While the County Airports staff are committed to the safety of aviation and strive continuously to meet all safety requirements within their jurisdiction on the surface of the airport, they do not have authority over aircraft in flight.  “The United States Government has exclusive sovereignty of airspace of the United States” — Title 49USC Subtitle VII Section 40103(a)(1).  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization (ATO) controls the flight of aircraft.

• Are there any safety requirements for aircraft and pilots?

  The FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) is responsible for aviation safety.  FSDO certifies and licenses aircraft and pilots, provides safety training and conducts safety investigations.  To report safety issues, residents may contact the San Diego FSDO at (858) 810-2626.

• Has Palomar Airport expanded over the last 20 years from a private plane airport with no commercial flights into a busier airport?

  The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) and the State of California classify Palomar Airport as a Public-use Primary Commercial Airport and a part of the National Transportation System. Commercial flights began at Palomar Airport in 1991, but at this time Palomar Airport does not have a commercial airline operating. In 2018 there were 159,180 flight operations, which has decreased in the last 20 years.

  Airport Operations – 20 Year Period

  1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002		2003	2004	2005		2006	2007
  243,595	243,932	291,873	255,104	221,898	204,289		193,336	207,856	209,293		201,070	215,847
  2008	2009	2010	2011	2012		2013	2014	2015		2016	2017		2018
  192,960	171,593	132,076	137,688	141,462		160,290	141,567	134,936		156,606	164,348		159,180

   

• Does the County have future plans to extend the runway?

  In  August  2013,  a  feasibility  study  for  potential  runway  and  safety  improvements  was completed.  The feasibility study will be one component of the airport’s 2015-2035 Master Plan. Through the Master Plan and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the County of San Diego and the FAA will determine if a runway extension will be part of the future airport improvements. Updates on the Master Plan process and the meeting schedule can be found here.

• What is the Noise Impact Notification Area (NINA)?

  In 1994 the San Diego Association of Governments adopted the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for Palomar Airport and established the airport Noise Impact Notification Area (NINA).  The CLUP states: "All new residential projects located within the NINA shall be required to record a notice concerning aircraft environmental impacts, clarifying that the property is subject to overflight, sight, and sound of aircraft operating from Palomar Airport."  Actual disclosures received when purchasing new  homes  are  the  responsibility  of  the  property  sellers  and  the  County  has  no  control regarding disclosures and explanations provided to home buyers.

• When I purchased my home, I was told that the disclosure that I signed was a technicality and that planes would only fly noise avoidance routes. Why are they now flying over my house?

  The  routes  and  altitudes  that  Palomar  aircraft  fly  were  established  in  1959  by  Federal Regulation when the airport was opened.  These patterns in the sky are developed by the FAA to provide for safe sequencing and separation of aircraft operations and do not correspond with suggested noise abatement. There is no formal noise abatement agreement between the Airport or the FAA and the surrounding residential communities.

• What is the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee?

  The San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) established the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC) in 1979 with the primary objective of developing a noise control plan for the airport. Since that time, the committee’s duties have expanded, but a primary focus continues to be an advisory panel to the Board on noise concerns. Members of the PAAC are appointed by the Board to review and make recommendations to the Board on issues pertaining to noise, land use, development, and operations at Palomar Airport. Additionally, the PAAC provides an open forum between the communities and the Board on Palomar Airport matters.

• Why are only airport businesses and not the public represented on the PAAC?

  Many of the PAAC members represent the communities of Carlsbad, Vista, Oceanside, and San Marcos.  These members are not representatives of the airport businesses or the airport sponsor. A complete roster of the current committee members can be viewed here.

• Why doesn’t the County limit the use of the airport by establishing use restrictions and fines?

  Palomar Airport is classified by the FAA National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) as a  public  use  Primary  Commercial  Airport  which  is  part  of  the  national  transportation system.  The airport is prohibited by federal law from establishing use restrictions, fines, and penalties.   As a result of federal grant assurances and federal regulations, the airport must remain open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.  As stated in the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990, proposed restrictions must be supported by substantial evidence in six areas:

  1)    …the restriction is reasonable, non-arbitrary, and nondiscriminatory

  2)    …does not create an undue burden on interstate or foreign commerce

  3)    …is consistent with maintaining the safe and efficient utilization of the navigable airspace

  4)    …does not conflict with any existing Federal statute or regulation

  5)    …there has been adequate opportunity for public comment

  6)    …does not create an undue burden on the national aviation system

• What is the Fly Friendly Program?

  Several years ago, a PAAC subcommittee with community participation developed the Fly Friendly Program. The programs community outreach efforts focus on increasing awareness of the residential noise sensitive areas surrounding the airport. As part of this program, Palomar Airport staff provide local pilots with an informational program guide to educate and encourage them to practice noise mitigation methods when flying. The online guide/pamphlet can be viewed here.

• What is the Voluntary Noise Abatement Program (VNAP)?

  In an effort to minimize aircraft noise impacts on the community, the County has established a Voluntary Noise Abatement Program (VNAP).  The VNAP routings are recommendations to Visual Flight Rule (VFR) aircraft that were coordinated with the FAA but were not formally recognized or accepted by the FAA as official air traffic control (ATC) procedures.  Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) aircraft are always under the heading and altitude command of the FAA air traffic controllers.  Because noise avoidance information is a general recommendation, it may not conform to ATC patterns and instructions.   It is important to note that the VNAP cannot be made directive to the FAA or pilots and because of safety, traffic sequence, or weather factors, etc., the FAA air traffic control instructions and pilot requests will have precedence over the VNAP.  Aircraft safety is the primary consideration for pilots and the FAA Control Tower.

• Can changes be made to the VNAP?

  The airport’s regular review of the VNAP is coordinated with the FAA and updated as needed. In 2007, a major revision of the VNAP was completed by adding voluntary arrival suggestions to what had essentially been a single departure procedure.  It is now an all-inclusive program with flight suggestions to benefit all surrounding neighborhoods and assists pilots and controllers to avoid noise sensitive areas when possible.

• Why don’t pilots follow the airport’s Voluntary Noise Abatement Program (VNAP)?

  Aircraft in flight within three nautical miles of the airport are under the control and jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Control instructions based on pilots requests, position, weather, conflicting traffic, and direction of flight are issued by the control tower. The FAA has established rules and regulations for flight safety, separation, and sequencing of aircraft arrivals and departures. All aircraft in the vicinity of Palomar Airport are required by CFR 14, Part 91.123 b, to comply with FAA air traffic control commands and Federal regulations 24 hours a day.

• What are the voluntary “Quiet Hours”?

  The first “Quiet Hours” guidelines were established in 1992.  Since that beginning, the quiet hours have been amended several times.   First, voluntary “Quiet Hours” included all jets. Then, it was expanded again to include aircraft conducting practice landings and most recently with the inclusion of all propeller aircraft.   In July, 2007, the VNAP program was revised to better address noise issues identified in the Noise Compatibility Study and findings of a 2006/2007 PAAC subcommittee.  The Palomar Airport Quiet Hours Guidelines are a sub-category of the VNAP program.  Propeller aircraft had never been a part of the voluntary Quiet Hours but are now included between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.  This revision does not change the voluntary hours for jets which remain 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.  

• Can fines and restrictions be placed on non-participating aviators?

  The County makes every effort to educate pilots regarding VNAP and strongly encourages following these procedures. However, fines cannot be levied in conjunction with a voluntary program, and the VNAP must remain voluntary as mandated by the FAA.

• How does the airport staff communicate local noise mitigation procedures to pilots?

  The airport staff makes every effort to educate pilots regarding noise abatement by providing local and transient pilots with an informational program consisting of speaker's presentations, brochures,  airport  signage,  web sites, direct mailings,  notification in manuals and providing information to flight schools to follow the VNAP. The support of various aviation organizations, both locally and nationally, help to educate and encourage pilots to follow the VNAP.  The process of education requires a continual course of outreach to contact as many pilots using the airport as possible. Besides the Palomar-based pilots, there is the potential that any of the 62,606 California resident pilots, or the many more across the nation, could fly at Palomar on any given day.  The noise mitigation program is supported by various national and local aviation organizations that assist in educating and encouraging Palomar and transient pilots to avoid noise sensitive areas.

• Why aren’t plants or trees located on the landfill slopes?

  The County is prohibited from planting plants with long roots, trees or any other long-rooted greenery because the roots may penetrate the cap of the landfill.

• Why aren’t the slopes watered when the vegetation turns brown?

  The County is prohibited from irrigating the landfill areas because water could seep into the landfill. Only natural rain fall is permitted to irrigate the landfill areas.

• Don’t landfills produce methane?

  Yes, that is why the County has a methane extraction system that operates 24 hours a day.

• What happens when I submit a noise complaint?

  The noise officer will investigate noise complaints and initiate the appropriate action.  Depending on the findings, the noise officer will follow up with aircraft operators and/or the FAA to investigate what actions can be taken to minimize noise impacts in the future. 

  If the complaint is regarding safety or a low flying aircraft, the reporting party will be provided with the contact information for the FAA’s Flight Standards District Office.  Reports regarding safety need to be filed by the individual who observed the flight. 

  On a monthly basis, the complaint data is compiled and presented to the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC).  Staff and committee members study the data to identify patterns and trends allowing the noise officer to best address community concerns.

• Where are the noise monitors located?

  Currently they are four noise monitors operational. Two are located east of the airport at Palomar Estates West Community, and at Vista Fire Station 5. The other two are west of the airport, located at Black Rail Road and on the property of Legoland.