— Half Moon Bay Airport —
Clear-weather patterns during winter and spring can lead to more flight training at Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF). Pilots should be aware that HAF neighbors—residents, business owners, and thriving wildlife in the nearby Fitzgerald Marine Reserve—are sensitive to aircraft noise. Airports’ staff ask that pilots (when practical and safe) follow these flight procedures to protect the quality of life for all HAF neighbors:
Runway 30 straight-out departure:
🛩️ Climb straight out until reaching the shoreline
🛩️ Reduce power/RPM as soon as safe
🛩️ Begin right crosswind turn as soon as safe (below TPA)
– If able, turn before the end of the airport property to avoid overflying homes in Moss Beach and Montara.
🛩️ Maintain Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA) on downwind to reduce impacts for residents in El Granada.
Traffic pattern hours:
🛩️ Weekdays: Airports’ staff request pilots not perform touch-and-go or full stop taxi-back operations earlier than 8:00 a.m. or later than two (2) hours after sunset
🛩️ Weekends & Holidays: Airports’ staff request pilots not perform touch-and-go or full stop taxi-back operations earlier than 9:30 a.m. or later than 6:00 p.m.
🛩️ At All Times: Airports’ staff request pilots limit the number of touch-and-go operations to five (5) or fewer per flight
View the HAF and SQL voluntary noise abatement procedures here. Airports’ staff wish smooth skies ahead for pilots and ask them to continue to fly safe and fly friendly.
