Noise Management
NIGHT-TIME AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS
24-Hour Operations
Like many international airports, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is open 24-hours. To
minimize disturbance caused by operations at night, the published Noise Abatement Procedures
(NAP) for YVR contains specific procedures, which include:
A mid-night to 6:00 AM restriction on Chapter 2 (older generation) noise
certified jet aircraft over 34,000kg;
A prior approval requirement for the departure of jet aircraft rated over
34,000kg Maximum Take-off Weight, regardless of actual take-off weight,
between midnight and 6:00 AM;
Between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM, the use of preferential runways in an attempt to
place both arrival and departure operations over the Strait of Georgia rather
than over residential areas, weather permitting;
Use of minimal reverse thrust upon landing, consistent with safety; and
Closure of the north runway (08L/26R) between the hours of 10:00 PM to 7:00
AM except in the event of an emergency or maintenance.
On average, there were approximately 21 aircraft movements at night between the hours of mid-
night and 6:00 AM in 2014.
While most of the night-time traffic is associated with cargo and courier operations, there are
some late night passenger services. Cargo and courier operations must occur at night in order
to deliver packages at their destinations for the next business day.
When receiving requests for jet departures at night, the Airport Authority will review the
benefits of the operation to the broader community. In general, operations that carry
passengers or cargo from YVR are approved, whereas ferry (repositioning) flights and technical
stops (refueling) operations are denied.
There is a common misconception that YVR is the only airport in Canada that is open 24-hours.
All international airports in Canada are open 24-hours a day, but each has different access
restrictions in place to manage traffic during the night-time hours.
Direction of Landings/Departures and Night-time Preferential Runway Use
The weather has a fundamental effect on aircraft operations. The wind direction and speed
determine which runway is active and the direction in which aircraft will depart and land – for
safety reasons, aircraft must take-off and land into the wind.
Based on historical observations, we typically see more departures and landings in an easterly
direction – “Runway 08”- during the Fall and Winter, and departures and landings in a westerly
direction - “Runway 26” - during the Spring and Summer.
At night, when traffic is light and the winds are calm, the preferred departure direction is to the
west (Runway 26) and the preferred landing direction is to the east (Runway 08), as this places
both departures and landings over the water. Figure 1 illustrates this preferential runway use.
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Noise Management
This method of operating the runways is not always possible, and landings and departures do
occur over the City due to the prevailing winds.
Night time preferential runway use
Red lines are aircraft arriving into YVR
Green lines are aircraft departing from YVR
Figure 1: Night-time Preferential Runway Use – landing and departures over the Georgia Strait
Unique Operations at Night
Air Ambulance
While most of the night-time traffic is associated with passenger or cargo and courier
operations, there are some operators at YVR that provide BC Air Ambulance Service using both
helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. These aircraft and their crews are on call 24-hours a day to
transport patients to and from remote locations in BC to the Vancouver area for care at local
hospitals.
Circling small aircraft
There are many operations that occur over the Lower Mainland at night that may account for the
sound of circling aircraft. Some of these operations are investigative - news reporting, traffic, or
surveillance. For example, “AIR 1” is a helicopter operated by the RCMP for their community
policing efforts and in support of other Lower Mainland police forces.
The following link provides further details on AIR 1 operations:
http://bc.cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=23&languageId=1&contentId=10002
If you need more information, please contact the YVR Noise Management office at [email protected]
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