Noise Abatement Information

NOISE ABATEMENT GUIDE:  Check out the new Torrance Municipal Airport (Zamperini Field) Noise Abatement Guide. This guide contains information on noise limits, departure curfews, enforcement, and suggested flight routes.

The mission of the Noise Abatement office is to reduce aircraft noise and improve the Airport’s compatibility with the surrounding community, through a reasonable approach to balancing Airport requirements with the Community’s needs to ensure a livable environment.

The Noise Abatement office provides enforcement of Torrance Municipal Codes regarding noise during take-off and landing, codes regarding curfew; and, other aircraft training operations. The City of Torrance Noise Abatement office does not have jurisdiction over altitude, where the aircraft are flying, flight patterns, or reckless flight; these issues are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the local FAA Air Traffic Control Tower (ATC). For FAA concerns, you can contact http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/.

The initial goal of the Noise Abatement program is voluntary compliance with the use of Notice of Violation letters and Noise Tests conducted by the pilots and Noise Abatement staff.  If voluntary compliance does not happen, enforcement, which could include hearing boards and ultimately the possibility of a pilot and/or aircraft being denied airport usage, can be used.

If you would like to file a complaint regarding aircraft noise, please file your complaints here on Noise Lab using the "COMPLAINTS" tab at the top of this page.  Using the Noise Lab complaints system ensures that your concern will be logged.  You will need to provide the date, time, and location of the possible violation, a description of the incident (noise, prohibited training, curfew, etc.) your name, and a location/address where you are reporting from.  Our staff will investigate the incident to determine if there is a violation.  If there is a violation, notice will be given to the pilot/owner, and staff will work with the pilot to correct the violation.  Our goal is to gain compliance by working with the pilot/owners; however, some cases may require enforcement through the use of the hearing board.

The Noise Abatement program continues to evolve and adjust through the input and actions of staff, the Airport Commission, residents, businesses, airport communities, and City Council. 

AIRCRAFT NOISE MONITORED 24 HOURS PER DAY

NOISE LIMITS

82 dB (A) Maximum Sound Level & 88 dB (A) SENEL (SEL)

0700 – 2200 Hours Mon. – Fri.

0800 – 2200 Hours Sat., Sun., & Holidays (per TMC 46.8.9 Holidays include New Year’s Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day and may be observed on a Friday preceding or Monday following respectively). 

CURFEW DEPARTURE

(No departures without authorization)

76 dB (A) Maximum Sound Level & 82 dB (A) SENEL (SEL)

2200 – 0700 Hours Mon. – Fri.

2200 – 0800 Hours Sat., Sun., & Holidays (per TMC 51.4.1 Holidays include New Year’s Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day and may be observed on a Friday preceding or Monday following respectively).

Torrance's noise ordinance makes no distinction between IFR and VFR. You are advised that if your aircraft is likely to violate the City's noise standards while departing IFR, you will have to await better weather conditions and depart VFR.

TRAINING (EFFECTIVE MARCH 8, 2024)

Taxi-back, and low approaches permitted *:

1000 – 1800 Hours   Mon. – Fri.  

*PROHIBITED SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, CITY-OBSERVED HOLIDAYS, AND ALL OTHER HOURS; UNLESS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY OR DIRECTED BY THE FAA - AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER. (ATCT)

EFFECTIVE MARCH 8, 2024 - TOUCH & GO AND STOP & GO ARE PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES.

No helicopter training in the south pattern.

SPECIAL NOISE CONSIDERATIONS

It is recommended when taking off to the west, no left turn allowed prior to the ocean or 1,500’ altitude, unless directed by ATC personnel, to avoid noise-sensitive areas. This recommendation applies to straight-out departures, it does not apply to training in the South Pattern or Missed Approach.

INFORMATION PROVIDED AS TO FLIGHT ROUTES ON DEPARTURE OR ARRIVAL IS MERELY RECOMMENDED BUT THE CHOICE, INCLUDING THE CHOICE NOT TO FLY, IS STRICTLY UP TO THE PILOT.

TESTING

Aircraft noise tests must be pre-arranged with the Noise Abatement Center.uploads/Noise Abatement Guide ADA Compliant.pdf