Airport Operations and Noise Information
Serving aviation demand, while managing aircraft noise within the airport’s environs, is a challenge for all airports. Annoyance by aircraft noise is a very personal issue. One individual can be greatly bothered by an aircraft passing overhead, while another individual may hardly notice the same noise.
A New Generation of Quieter Aircraft
In the late 1960's, the Federal Government established regulations, (FAR Part 36 and Part 91) which resulted in the phasing out of the older, noisier aircraft from the nation's fleet and replacing them with newer, quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft.
The Federal Government Regulates Airport Operations, Airspace, and Aircraft.
The Airport is owned and operated by the City of Torrance; however, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates virtually all aspects of airport operations.
The FAA also manages the airspace nationwide, controls aircraft in flight, establishes flight patterns, and determines minimum flight altitudes for aircraft. Aircraft taking off and landing use flight paths established by the FAA, and generally must achieve and operate at a minimum altitude of 1,000 ft. for aircraft and 500 ft. for helicopters.
The reduction of aircraft noise, through development of quieter engines, has been a key goal of the FAA. Aircraft are classified in different noise “Stages”, with Stage 3 being the noisiest and Stage 5 being the quietest. As of Dec. 31, 2015, the FAA prohibits airplanes with a maximum weight of 75,000 pounds or less from operating within the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. unless they meet Stage 3 noise levels. This includes all aircraft currently operating at Zamperini Field.