Tips for Homeowners

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

It is important for the public to know that the authority to control aircraft in flight and on the ground is vested exclusively in the FAA. The FAA, however, cannot control the number of flights or the time of day of aircraft operations. Federal law preempts any local government agency from implementing any action that is intended to control the routes of aircraft in flight. Therefore, local elected officials and airport management cannot control the routes of aircraft in flight or on the ground.

Assess the Homesite

Peak travel season for airport operations at Tampa International Airport is the winter and the peak month is generally March. 

There are two primary flight corridors for aircraft operations at Tampa International Airport, a north and south flow. When the winds are from the north or northeast/northwest (north flow), planes depart toward the north over Hillsborough Avenue. As turbojet aircraft transition on a southerly heading and begin turning north to land during a north flow, it is preferred that these turbojets turn north of MacDill Air Force Base Runway 4 (base leg) and intersect the extended centerline of the west parallel runway (1L) to land. Turbo-prop and propeller aircraft are exempt from the aforementioned procedure. Occasionally, planes will depart to and arrive from the east during strong crosswinds of 20-knots and 5-knots tailwind. When the winds are from the south (south flow), turbojets depart toward Interstate 275 and turn to assign flight track headings that turns them out toward Tampa Bay to maximize flights over water. During arrival, planes navigate from all areas to land at the airport based on prescribed Federal Aviation Administration traffic patterns. The noise impact will be different for each operational mode at different home sites. Most planes fly during the day and early evening, though there is an increasing number of flights operating late at night. Weekends may be busy too, but personal observations are important. You probably don't have the time to observe at all hours, but airplanes fly at all hours and there is no curfew at Tampa International Airport. 

Check the Flight Pattern

Flight patterns affect most areas in Hillsborough County. Become aware of what aircraft noise impacts there may be at the home site by visiting and spending time at the home site. There can be variation in the altitude of the airplanes for various reasons, both on departure and on approach. The Federal Aviation Administration is solely responsibile for the movement of aircraft throughout the national airspace system and assigns headings, altitudes, etc.

Know the TPA Runways

Currently, Tampa International Airport has two parallel runways (1L/19R and 1R/19L) that handle the majority of commercial, cargo, commuter and general aviation (corporate jets, turbo-propeller and propeller aircraft) operations. A shorter crosswind runway, 10-28 is available to handle aircraft operations when crosswinds or other operational reasons dictate. 

Screen Information Carefully

Be careful with what people tell you. Real estate agents, property developers, neighbors and concerned citizens may not be familiar with aircraft operations at Tampa International Airport. So, when some might tell you that the airport shuts down at night or that the planes usually fly the other way or that it's not that bad or that the noise is getting worse every day or that the flight paths were just changed or that the property value is going down or anything else, please call the Noise Monitoring Officer. The Noise Monitoring Officer will discuss flight patterns; current aircraft operations; aircraft over-flight areas and future growth at the airport. 

Contact the Noise Officer

Concerned about the impact of aircraft noise? Call the Noise Monitoring Officer at (813) 870-7843.