QUIET SKIES MID PENINSULA

Update: In June 2022, the FAA announced it has abandoned its ill-conceived plan to shift the current SERFR route over LAH without implementing the noise fixes recommended by local officials and our Congressional Representatives. Though noise has been reduced since the original NextGen launch in 2015 through multiple changes (increased altitudes due to Class B fixes, deconfliction in the vicinity of the MENLO waypoint and the introduction of HIGHR, preference for "over the bay" approach when available), we are disappointed that the FAA didn't go further to address all recommendations from community advocates and elected officials. This site is being preserved for historical reasons but is no longer being updated. For more up-to-date news, please visit Sky Posse Palo Alto.

About Us

We are a coalition of citizen groups representing ten cities in the SF Mid-Peninsula region (Belmont, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Ladera, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, Woodside) who are concerned about the dramatic increase in aircraft noise over our cities and towns since March 2015.

More commercial aircraft are flying lower and making more noise than in the past, as a result of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) implementation of the "NextGen" air traffic control system.

We object to the FAA's unilateral decision to funnel more aircraft over our community. We accept that aircraft must fly somewhere to reach Bay Area airports. We simply do not accept that the FAA has increased the noise and pollution above historical levels.

See the letter sent from the Mid-Peninsula group to U.S. Reps. Eshoo (CA-18) and Farr (CA-20) outlining our principles, why we declined to endorse the Quiet Skies NorCal letter and why we think proposing solutions to the FAA is a bad strategy for cities in the NorCal Metroplex.

FAA's NextGen air traffic control system. Video explaining increased air traffic over Los Altos and Los Altos Hills due to FAA's NextGen.

Upcoming Events

Final Select Committee Meeting on Thursday, Nov 17, 1-4pm, at Palo Alto City Hall, Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto

How To Complain

Individual complaints about aircraft noise pollution matter because SFO publishes complaint numbers monthly. One complaint from 100 people carries much more weight than 100 complaints from one person.

Visit stop.jetnoise.net to complain to SFO about loud aircraft. The site is very easy to use. It reports the commercial aircraft's model, flight number, and altitude at your location. A Google or Facebook account is required.

Sign the Change.org Petition started by our friends at SkyPosse Palo Alto to demand that our elected officials take action to reduce aircraft noise.

Visit our pages on How To Take Action and contact our elected officials, including City, County, State, and Federal representatives.