An Ordinance Pertaining to the Regulation and Control
of Aircraft Noise at Hayward Air Terminal
[This ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting on July 9, 1991 and unanimously adopted by the council July 23, when it was approved by the mayor.]
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Hayward hereby finds and declares that:
(1) The City of Hayward is the proprietor and operator of the Hayward Air Terminal ("Airport") located within its corporate limits;
(2) Subject to any regulations or restrictions which may be imposed by state or federal law, the City as the airport proprietor has the authority to adopt reasonable rules regulating the use of the Airport, including the power to restrict or deny the use of the Airport to aircraft generating excessive noise levels;
(3) The control of airport noise is inherently a matter of local concern and there is a demonstrated need for noise regulation at the Airport;
(4) It is in the public interest that aircraft noise be reduced to ensure the peace and tranquility of residential neighborhoods without impairing the ability of the Airport to serve the general aviation needs of the community and the national air transportation system;
(5) It is the policy of the City Council of the City of Hayward to make a reasonable effort to reduce noise from aircraft operations at the Airport;
(6) In an effort to gather all available information, record citizens' complaints, and analyze and recommmend solutions to the noise problem, the Airport staff has conducted a public survey and a series of public workshops on all aspects of the airport noise problem;
(7) The City Council has analyzed the results of the public workshops as well as the noise monitoring and other data regarding aircraft operations at the Airport and finds that the noisiest aircraft utilizing the Airport produce annoyances and citizen complaints far in excess of their proportion of total percentage of operation;
(8) The City Council has considered the economic impact and the costs and benefits of this ordinance as well as alternative noise restrictions and noise measures;
(9) One of the purposes of noise enforcement standards under this ordinance is to allow all current operators of noisy aircraft the flexibility to modify their aircraft or otherwise bring their activities into compliance; and
(10) A draft of this ordinance has been circulated and public meetings held to receive comments from interested parties on its provisions.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAYWARD DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 2-6.119 of Chapter 2, Article 6 of the Hayward Municipal Code is hereby repealed.
Section 2. Sectons 2-6.119 through 2-6.127 of Chapter 2, Article 6 of the Hayward Municipal Code are hereby added to read in full as follows:
SEC. 2-6.119 DEFINITIONS. The following terms are defined as follows unless it is apparent from their context that a different meaning is intended:
(b) A-Weighted Noise Level (NL). The A-weighted noise level, in decibels, is the sound pressure level measured using the slow dynamic characteristics for type 2 or type 2 sound level meters specified in the American National Standard Specifications for sound level meters, ANSI S1.4-1971 (or lates revision thereof). The A-weighting characteristics modify the frequency response of the measuring instrument to account approximately for the frequency characteristics of the human ear;
(c) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular 36-3F (FAA Advisory Circular 36-3F). Federal Aviation Administration publication entitled "Estimated Noise Levels in A-weighted Decibels," which lists take-off and approach noise levels for all fixed-wing aircraft in the U.S. fleet (except for experimental and antique aircraft) as measured at 21,325 feet (6,500 meters) from beginning of take-off roll for take-off noise and 6,652 feet (2,000 meters) from the landing threshold for approach noise. The phrase "FAA Advisory Circular 36-3F" shall refer to the Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 36-3F, including all revisions thereof, or the version of that document currently in effect; and
(d) Enforcement Officer. The Airport Director and such other City employees as are designated by the Airport Director with the approval of the Public Works Director and the City Manager all acting under the direction and control of the City Manager, shall have the duty and authority to enforce the provisions of the Aircaft Noise Restrictions, pursuant to section 836.5 of the California State Penal Code.
SEC. 2-6.120 AIRCRAFT NOISE LIMIT
Runways 28L/28R Runways 10R/10L
-----------------------------------
NMT #1 98 NMT #1 98
NMT #2 98 NMT #2 98
NMT #3 98 NMT #3 100
NMT #4 98 NMT #4 99
(b) No aircraft may take off, land or otherwise operate at the Airport at night between the hours of 11:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. if it generates a Single Event Noise Exposure Level (SENEL) which exceeds the following values as measured at any one of the Airport's four Noise Monitoring Terminals (NMT):
Runways 28L/28R Runways 10R/10L
-----------------------------------
NMT #1 95 NMT #1 95
NMT #2 95 NMT #2 95
NMT #3 95 NMT #3 97
NMT #4 95 NMT #4 96
SEC. 2-6.121 PRESUMPTION OF AIRCRAFT NOISE VIOLATION.
(b) Between the hours of 11:01 pm and 6:59 am, any aircraft which exceeds 73 on the dBA scale on take-off as listed in the AC36-3F, shall be presumed to be in violation of the maximum single event noise levels established as described in section 2-6.120
(c) Aircraft types and models which are not listed in AC36-3F will be allowed to operate at the airport only if:
(ii) The operator performs a flight test to the reasonable satisfaction of the Airport Manager using operating procedures which indicate an ability to comply with the maximum noise levels established in section 2-6.120.
SEC. 2-6.122 REBUTTAL OF PRESUMPTION OF AIRCRAFT NOISE VIOLATION.
(2) Demonstrating an ability to comply with the maximum SENEL noise limits established in section 2-6.120 by performing a flight test using safe operating procedures;
(b) The Airport Director's approval shall not be unreasonably withheld;
(c) If the above conditions are met, the specified aircraft owner or operator shall be entitled to operate the approved aircraft at the Airport as long as the specified operating conditions identified in the flight test are followed during subsequent operations.
(d) Failure to comply with the specified operating conditions shall constitute a violation of these Aircraft Noise Restrictions. Upon the second violation of the Aircraft Noise Restrictions, the aircraft shall be excluded from the airport for a period of at least 6 months before operating privileges for that aircraft can be requested again.
SEC. 2-6.123 EXEMPTIONS. The following categories of aircraft shall be exempt from the provisions of section 2-6.120 above:
(b) Aircraft operated by the US or the State of California;
(c) Law enforcement, emergency, fire or rescue aircraft operated by any county, city, subdivision or special districts of the state when those aircraft are operating in emergency situations including emergency aircraft flights for medical purposes;
(d) Aircraft used for emergency purposes during an emergency which has been officially proclaimed by competent authority pursuant to the law of the United States, the State of California, Alameda County, or the City of Hayward;
(e) Civil Air Patrol aircraft when engaged in actual search and rescue missions;
(f) Aircraft which are being operated under a declared in-flight emergency;
(g) Aircraft operating as a declared air ambulance emergency flight for medical purposes pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 21662.4;
(h) Aircraft engaged in takeoffs or landings while conducting tests under the direction of the Airport Manager in an attempt to rebut the presumption of aircraft noise violation pursuant to the provisions of sections 2-6.121 and 2-6.122 above.
Evidence of exemption status under subsections (f) and (g) above must be provided to the Airport within seven (7) days of the flight.
SEC. 2.6-124 CULPABILITY OF INSTRUCTOR PILOTS.
In the case of any training flight in which both the instructor pilot
and a student pilot are in the aircraft which is flown in violation
of any of the Aircraft Noise Restrictions, the instructor pilot shall
be rebuttably presumed to have caused the violation.
SEC. 2.6-125 CULPABILITY OF AIRCRAFT OWNER. For purposes of the Aircraft Noise Restrictions, if the pilot of an
aircraft cannot be otherwise identified, the owner of an aircraft
shall be presumed to be the pilot of the aircraft with authority to
control the aircraft's operation, or presumed to have authorized or
assisted in the aircraft's operation. The presumption may be rebutted
only if the owner or lessee identifies the person who in fact was
the pilot at the time of the asserted violation.
SEC. 2-6.126 ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS. Any person who operates an aircraft in violation of the Aircraft Noise
Restrictions shall be guilty of an infraction. Upon conviction of
an infraction, a person shall be subject to payment of a fine, not
to exceed the limits set forth in California Government Code section
36900. In addition, the Airport Manager may issue orders imposing
civil penalties for violations of the Aircraft Noise Restrictions.
The following standards and procedures shall apply to the enforcement
of these provisions:
(b) Upon the second violation of any provision of the Aircraft Noise Restrictions within a three year period, a second citation shall be issued and the violator shall be subject to a fine of up to $500.00, a suspension of airport privileges or permits for up to one year, or both;
(c) Upon the third violation of any provision of the Aircraft Noise Restrictions within a three year period, a third citation shall be issued and the violator shall be subject to an order imposing a civil penalty which may be a fine of up to $500.00, a suspension of airport privileges or permits for up to three years or both;
(d)The Airport Manager may also restrict access to and operating privileges at the airport subject to compliance with certain operating conditions in order to ensure future compliance with the Aircraft Noise Restrictions.
(e) Before issuing an order for a violation of the Aircraft Noise Restrictions, the Airport Manager shall consider all relevant factors in each case including the willfulness, severity and nature of the violation, the existence and use of safe noise abatement operating procedures appropriate to the aircraft, instructions issued by FAA air traffic control tower personnel for air traffic safety purposes, and extraneous factors beyond the pilot's control such as loss of power, maneuvers to avoid other aircraft or unusual weather conditions;
(f) Any person may appeal an order of the Airport Manager imposing a civil penalty by filing a written appeal with the Public Works Director within seven (7) days of the date of the Airport Manager's order. If the seventh day falls on a weekend or legal holiday observed by the City then the appeal may be filed on the next work day;
(g) An order of the Public Works Director shall be final except for judicial review and shall not be appealable to the City Council;
(h) A willful violation of a lawful order of either the Airport Director or the Public Works Director shall constitute a separate and distinct violation of these Aircraft Noise Restrictions;
(i) Any person who fails to pay a civil penalty within 30 days after the issuance of an order to do so shall pay a separate charge of ten percent of the unpaid amount of the civil penalty. The airport Director may also exclude such person from the Airport until the penalty and any late charges are paid;
(j) The remedies established herein are supplementary to any legal or equitable remedies available to the City in its municipal and proprietary capacities, including but not limited to its right to abate nuisances and hazards.
SEC. 2-6.127 EXCLUSION OF AIRCRAFT FROM AIRPORT. In the event any aircraft has been operated in violation of any of
the Aircraft Noise Restrictions or any other laws, rules or regulations
of the City on three or more occasions within a three year period,
that aircraft may be denied the right to tie down, be based at, land
or take off from the Airport for a period of three years except in
emergencies for the preservation of life or property as reasonably
determined by the Airport Manager.
SEC. 2-6.128 OPERATIVE DATE. Sections 2-6.119 through 2-6.127 of this Article shall not be enforced
until six months after their adoption. This transition period is
provided to permit education of the aviation community about the existence
of these noise restrictions as well as alternative noise restrictions
which were considered and rejected, to provide reasonable notification
to the owners and operators of aircraft which are presumptively incapable
of complying with such noise restrictions and to permit compliance
with the noise restrictions by allowing a reasonable time for transition
to quieter models of aircraft or modification of existing equipment.