The Gull's Call - Jul/Aug/Sep 2026

by John Hamilton, CLASS President

R ESIDENTS CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CLASS (Citizens League for Airport Safety and Serenity) to advocate for measures that reduce aircraft noise impacts on Bay Farm Island and surrounding neighborhoods. Below are three current priorities and ways residents can support these efforts. Request #1: Expand the Bay Departure Turn Program Aircraft departing Runway 30 at Oakland International Airport currently have the option to make a slight left turn toward the center of the bay after reaching approximately 500 feet in altitude between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Noise measurements have shown that this small adjustment can reduce noise levels in central Bay Farm Island by approximately 3 dBA. About one-third of departing aircraft currently follow this procedure, but implementation by the remaining operators has reportedly been delayed by the FAA. Current Status: Progress has stalled, and community advocates continue to encourage FAA action. How You Can Help: Continue supporting efforts that promote wider adoption of this noise-reduction procedure. Request #2: Eliminate Scheduled Jet Departures During Monday Runway Maintenance Runway 30 is closed for maintenance each Monday between shortly after midnight and 6:00 a.m. While maintenance is sometimes completed early, this is not always the case. Since approximately 2014, some airlines have scheduled departures before 6:00 a.m. When Runway 30 remains unavailable, these flights may depart from the North Field, resulting in aircraft flying over Bay Farm Island homes during early morning hours. Current Status: CLASS has sent letters to both the airport and airline operators requesting that regularly scheduled departures not occur during the maintenance window. No formal response has been received.

How You Can Help: Continue supporting efforts to prevent early morning departures over residential areas. Request #3: Prevent the Return of FedEx MD-11 Aircraft at OAK FedEx operates cargo flights during overnight and early morning hours, generally between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. The MD-11 aircraft, one of the oldest cargo jets still in use, is significantly louder than newer aircraft. The MD-11 fleet has not been operating at OAK since last November, and many residents report a noticeable reduction in aircraft noise during that period. Community advocates are urging FedEx not to return these aircraft to service at Oakland International Airport. Current Status: Letters have been sent to FedEx requesting that MD-11 operations not resume at OAK. No response has been received to date. How You Can Help: Continue supporting efforts to encourage the use of quieter aircraft. Get Involved Community participation remains one of the most effective ways to make concerns known. Residents are encouraged to submit airport noise complaints and stay engaged with ongoing advocacy efforts. To file a noise complaint, visit flyquietoak.com or call (510) 563-6463. Residents interested in volunteering with CLASS can learn more by contacting info@CLASSalameda.com.

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The Gull’s Call