Noise Abatement Procedures

Find out what noise abatement procedures are used at MHR.

While safety is always the highest priority, the Sacramento County Department of Airports encourages and expects aircraft operators to fly as quietly as possible, To assist aircraft operators in achieving this goal, the Sacramento County Department of Airports has worked with communities and the FAA to establish voluntary noise abatement procedures designed to minimize aircraft noise exposure.  A primary emphasis of these procedures is to minimize aircraft noise during the nighttime hours (22:00 to 07:00) when people are more sensitive to aircraft noise exposure.  The Sacramento County Department of Airports also has letters of agreement with several units of the United States military designed to limit repetitive training activity to the daytime hours and up to one hour per aircraft.

Because the Sacramento County Department of Airports has no jurisdiction over aircraft in flight, these procedures are voluntary. As a result, the Sacramento County Department of Airports relies on the aircraft operators and air traffic controllers to be aware of and follow these procedures when it is safe to do so.

Extremely noise sensitive populated areas are located along approach and departure corridors for Mather Airport. Pilots are requested/encouraged to use best operating practices to minimize aircraft noise exposure at all times. The following are the specific noise abatement procedures in place for Mather Airport.

  • Whenever possible, arrivals should fly at or above 3-degree glidepath. This helps the aircraft to maintain as high of an altitude as possible on arrival and limit the use of changes in engine power.

  • Pilots are encouraged to use minimum reverse thrust once they have landed to reduce potential noise exposure to areas located in close proximity to the Airport.

  • Departure aircraft are encouraged to climb to ATC clearance altitudes as soon as practical. This practice encourages the pilot to climb to a higher altitude as quickly as possible.

  • VFR Turbojet aircraft departing on Runways 22R and 22L, to the north or northwest from the centerline of the runway, are to begin turns at or above 1,100 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL).

  • VFR piston aircraft departing the traffic pattern shall not make turns prior to reaching 700 feet MSL.

  • Standard Traffic Pattern altitudes are 1,096 feet MSL for piston aircraft, and 1,896 feet MSL for turbine aircraft.

  • Normal traffic pattern flow is

    • Runway 22L – left traffic

    • Runway 22R – right traffic

    • Runway 4R – right traffic

    • Runway 4L – left traffic

If traffic allows, turbojet aircraft will use left traffic for runway 22R and right traffic for runway 4L.

ATC noise abatement procedures in effect from 22:00 to 07:00

  • Runways 22L/R Departures: All jet departures turn left to and maintain a heading of 090° through 4,000 feet MSL before proceeding on course.

  • Northbound departures maintain a 090° heading until passing through 6,000 feet MSL prior to proceeding on course.

  • Runways 4L/R: All jet departures turn right to a heading of 100° until reaching 4,000 feet MSL, northbound departures maintain a 100° heading until passing 6,000 feet MSL.

  • Arrivals from the north and east: Vectors to intercept the approach east of CAMRR (20 nm from the runway end) at or above 6,500 feet MSL.

  • Arrivals from the south through the southeast: Vectors to intercept the approach east of LDOOR (15 nm from runway end) at or above 5,000 feet MSL.

  • Aircraft entering a downwind from the southwest of Mather must turn onto final approach prior to 10 miles. If unable, aircraft will be vectored to intercept final approach east of LDOOR at or above 5,000 feet MSL.

Pilot information on noise abatement (916) 874.0359