4 ms·

Well not all the time. They can change, but approach and departure paths need to be approved by the FAA and published in official navigation charts. So they don

• Rebelgecko 8y ago
  Most people probably don't check official navigation charts, so they don't realize that just because they don't hear airplanes in a house when they visit it doesn't mean they won't later (like swapping runway direction depending on wind conditions). The FAA NextGen changes have also moved flight paths quite a bit over the last few years. My parents live somewhere where they wouldn't expect to have airplane noise (about a 40 mile drive from the nearest airport, although more like 30 as the crow flies), but starting a year ago they've have planes flying 3,000 feet over their roof, low enough to be noticeably loud.
  • sokoloff 8y ago
    30 miles at 3000’ or below is an unusually and incredibly long low approach path for jets. Most class B (largest 30 or so) airports only protect out to 20 miles and often only above 4000’ and none protect the airspace out to 30 miles. (Except DC which is protected post-9/11 not because of airplane needs.) I don’t find small piston aircraft to be annoying (though perhaps constant beach banner towing or helo tours would be), but understand why people don’t like jet noise overhead. Fortunately jets climb quickly (for their own fuel efficiency needs) and while they have to be low for approaches, that’s generally well inside of 20 miles.