SANTA ANA, California — John Wayne/Orange County Airport (KSNA) has launched Fly Friendly, an education and outreach program designed to minimize noise and environmental impacts from general aviation jet aircraft.
Unlike some other programs that look to punish pilots, this one looks to recognize “outstanding operators,” according to airport officials.
“Fly Friendly uses a new software program to better identify and recognize outstanding operators,” said Donald P. Wagner, vice chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “This program allows the county to input data from the airport’s noise system to more accurately monitor our flights. We can use it to help the airport determine the top operators and to course-correct those operators for improvement.”
GA jet operators will receive points for:
- Avoiding nighttime and early-morning operations, when possible
- Producing the least amount of measurable noise each year
- Engaging pilots with noise abatement education, distributing Fly Friendly materials, and/or attending Orange County community meetings focused on aviation impacts
- Contributing toward ecological restoration and habitat enhancement projects through the Irvine Ranch Conservancy or Newport Bay Conservancy.
The goal is for those living under and near the airport’s flight path to experience less noise by GA jet operators voluntarily adopting the recommended pilot instructions and best practices of the Fly Friendly program, airport officials said.
Though the airport already has one of the most stringent aircraft noise monitoring programs in the United States, Fly Friendly builds upon existing regulations by reaching out directly to GA jet operators with a “toolkit” and seeking voluntary adoption of best practices for quieter, cleaner flights, airport officials said. (You can see the toolkit materials here.)
To learn more about Fly Friendly, go to OCAir.com/FlyFriendly.