Frequently Asked Questions
Who controls airport operations and aircraft noise?
The City of Fredville owns and runs Fredville Municipal Airport, but nearly every part of how the airport operates is governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Federal rules, not city rules, cover the airfield, the airspace above it and the aircraft that use it.
The FAA oversees airspace across the country. It directs most aircraft while they are airborne, sets the routes pilots follow and decides how low aircraft may fly. Planes arriving and departing use FAA-designated paths and generally must climb to and hold at least 1,000 feet above the ground; for helicopters the minimum is 500 feet.
Cutting aircraft noise, largely by encouraging quieter engine designs, has long been an FAA priority. Aircraft are sorted into noise "Stages," from Stage 1 (loudest) to Stage 3 (quietest). Since the end of 2015, airplanes weighing 75,000 pounds or less have not been allowed to fly in the lower 48 states unless they meet Stage 3 standards, and every aircraft now using our airport meets that requirement.
Why do aircraft fly over my house?
Fredville sits in some of the busiest airspace in the country, with more than a dozen airports a short distance from the city. To keep aircraft safely apart, both side to side and by altitude, the FAA sets traffic patterns across the whole Metroplex. A plane over your home might be headed to or from DFW International, one of the nation's busiest airports, or from Dallas Love Field, Cedar Bluff, our own municipal airport or one of several other regional airfields. Military jets and helicopters usually fly from the joint reserve base at the Fort Worth naval air station.
Isn't the municipal airport only for small planes?
No. The airport is designated as a reliever for DFW and Love Field and handles roughly 90,000 aircraft operations each year. Its traffic includes small piston planes, helicopters, turboprops and light business jets. Several helicopter operators and two large flight schools are based here.
Why do planes take off toward my neighborhood?
Wind direction at the runway decides which way aircraft depart, because pilots take off into the wind. In neighborhoods, buildings, fences and trees block much of the breeze, so it may seem calm at your home. Out on the open airfield, however, a wind of six knots or more usually means aircraft have to depart facing into it.
Does weather change how loud aircraft sound?
Weather influences nearly everything about a flight, including its noise. In hot weather aircraft climb more slowly, so they stay lower and sound louder from the ground. Under a cloud deck, engine noise can bounce off the undersides of the clouds and back down. Wind can also carry sound farther along the surface.
Which is quieter, an arriving plane or a departing one?
Because a plane coming in to land needs far less engine power, an arriving aircraft at low altitude is usually quieter than the same type of aircraft taking off. Close to the airport, though, that advantage may be cancelled out, since arriving planes tend to be lower over any given spot than departing ones.
Can the city fine a noisy aircraft?
No. The city has no legal power to fine or otherwise penalize a pilot or aircraft operator over how much noise an aircraft makes.
Can the city set a curfew for the airport?
No. Any curfew would need FAA approval, and the FAA requires the airport to stay open around the clock, every day of the week. The FAA has not approved a new airport curfew in many years.
How does the FAA judge a request for a curfew?
An airport sponsor asking for a curfew must show that the proposal passes every one of these six FAA tests:
- It is reasonable and is neither arbitrary nor discriminatory.
- It does not unduly burden interstate or foreign commerce.
- It keeps the navigable airspace safe and efficient to use.
- It does not conflict with any federal law or regulation now in effect.
- The public was given a fair chance to comment on it.
- It does not unduly burden the national aviation system.
What are the traffic pattern rules?
As a general rule, aircraft in the airport's traffic pattern fly about 1,000 feet above ground level while arriving or leaving the area. Planes are naturally lower than that while taking off and touching down.
When did the airport open?
The city bought the land for the current airport in 1961, and the City Council approved the airport's design a few years later. An older airfield near downtown was sold and closed in 1965, and Fredville Municipal Airport opened at its present site in 1967.
How do I report airport noise?
Use the city's online airport noise report form to file a complaint. Include the date, time and location of the noise so staff can look into it.
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