Noise Abatement
Cape Cod Gateway Airport
PRESS RELEASE:
HYANNIS, Mass. — August 30, 2026 —
ZOOM LINK:
https://townofbarnstable-us.zoom.us/j/86378204585?pwd=sbJh6XxLaChZh2Vzh7AOp0Z3vjtbfa.1
Cape Cod Gateway Airport will host the first in a series of public
roundtable discussions focused on noise abatement and the airport’s ongoing efforts to address community concerns.
The public is invited to attend the roundtable on Wednesday, September 16, at 6 p.m. at Barnstable High School’s Knights Auditorium, located at 744 West Main Street in Hyannis. Virtual participation will also be available via Zoom.
The discussion follows several months of conversations between airport staff and community stakeholders regarding aircraft noise and potential measures to further address the concerns of airport neighbors. Community stakeholders who have participated in those discussions will serve as panelists, along with aviation experts representing various entities.
The roundtable will provide an opportunity for members of the public to hear about recent noise abatement initiatives undertaken by Cape Cod Gateway Airport, ask questions, and participate in an open dialogue about the issue.
Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the meeting by emailing noiseroundtable@flyhya.com. Advance questions will help organizers streamline the discussion and ensure that key topics are addressed during the event.
The public noise abatement roundtables are intended to be an ongoing, open, honest and civil public dialogue focused on addressing the concerns of airport neighbors and fostering a better understanding among the airport, aviation community and surrounding neighborhoods.
Event Details
Cape Cod Gateway Airport Noise Abatement RoundtableDate: Wednesday, September 16, 2026Time: 6 p.m.Location: Barnstable High School, Knights AuditoriumAddress: 744 West Main Street, Hyannis, MAVirtual: Zoom participation availableQuestions: noiseroundtable@flyhya.com
ZOOM LINK: https://townofbarnstable-us.zoom.us/j/86378204585?pwd=sbJh6XxLaChZh2Vzh7AOp0Z3vjtbfa.1
Cape Cod Gateway Airport is very conscious of its location in urbanized Barnstable and on the border of the Town of Yarmouth. It works cooperatively with the airlines and their pilots to reduce aircraft noise and maintain a constructive dialogue with neighbors who may be affected.
The airport has instituted noise abatement procedures and defined flight corridors. Our visual flight rules for aircraft are voluntary by law, and pilots and aircraft operators are strongly urged to follow them when safety permits. During times of instrument flight rules when pilots must fly under the guidance of radar, the procedures do not apply. The Airport created voluntary flight path maps to assist pilots with operating in and around urbanized Barnstable.
View HYA's Flight Path Maps here.
Additionally, Cape Cod Gateway Airport has established voluntary quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. During these times, all aviation operators are encouraged to limit their flights so that citizens in neighboring communities are not disturbed during normal sleeping hours. Also, training, touch-and-go and certification flights are prohibited without approval of the airport management.
While the quiet hours are voluntary, operations that do occur during this time are carefully monitored and recorded. Fortunately, flights during quiet hours are kept to a minimum. They usually consist of flights resulting from weather delays, emergency medical flights or early morning aircraft repositioning or mail flights.
Please keep in mind that the FAA does not allow the airport to mandate these quiet hours or allow the airport to violate anyone not complying with the airport's request. See "Federal Regulations" below
The Airport uses a third party flight tracking system to assist in monitoring airport operations, via Vector Airport Systems. The system used is known as VNOMS, which stands for "Vector Noise and Operations Management System". VNOMS collects aircraft operations by radar data and the incorporation of aircraft identification by using positive IDs from ground-based cameras fused with flight tracks to build a complete picture of the airport's aircraft traffic. Vector's camera-based IDs allow VNOMS users to literally SEE airport operations. The Cape Cod Gateway Airport Flight Activity Portal was crafted by Vector Airport Systems.
How does the Airport Monitor Airport Operations?
Cape Cod Gateway Airport is committed to working closely with the community to address aircraft noise concerns and improve communication with residents. The Airport has launched a new noise disturbance reporting platform that provides multiple convenient ways for citizens to report concerns and helps Airport staff better review and respond to reported activity.
Three Ways to Report an Aircraft Noise Disturbance
1. Submit a Report Online
Residents can submit a noise disturbance report directly through the Airport’s new online reporting platform:
Cape Cod Gateway Airport Noise Reporting Platform
The online form allows users to provide detailed information about the disturbance, including the date, time, location, and any aircraft information that may help staff review the concern.
2. Use the Mobile App
Citizens may also report aircraft noise concerns using the Complaint Box Mobile™ app, available for both iPhone and Android devices.
3. Call the Noise Disturbance Hotline
Residents may leave a voicemail on the Airport’s dedicated noise disturbance report line:
888-422-7416
Please provide as much information as possible, including:
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Your name and address
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The exact date and time of the disturbance
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The location where the incident occurred
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Any aircraft details, such as a tail number, if available
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A description of the concern (for example: excessive engine noise, low altitude, or aircraft appearing off course)
Detailed information helps Airport staff investigate and review concerns more effectively.
How to Report an Aircraft Noise Disturbance
Cape Cod Gateway Airport has adopted the PlaneNoise Complaint Box system as part of its ongoing community engagement and noise abatement efforts. The platform provides residents with an easier, more responsive way to report aircraft noise concerns while helping the Airport identify trends and areas requiring additional attention.
Every report submitted through the system is logged immediately. Individuals submitting a complaint may also receive a Smart Receipt — a personalized confirmation that, when possible, identifies the aircraft most likely associated with the reported event along with related flight information.
The Airport encourages residents to use whichever reporting method is most convenient. Every report helps inform ongoing collaboration between the Airport, the FAA, aircraft operators, and the surrounding community.
About the New PlaneNoise Complaint Box Platform
Once the airport receives notification of an aircraft disturbance, most disturbances will take a predictable path as outlined below.
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Flow Chart below.
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The airport verifies the aircraft altitude via the Flight Tracking PORTAL.
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If the aircraft was at a safe altitude meeting Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.119 (FAR Part 91.119) see also (FAA Guide to Low Flying Aircraft) there is no other action to be taken by the airport, and based on the information, the aircraft is flying within regulatory requirements.
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If the aircraft was NOT at a safe altitude and NOT meeting Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.119 (FAR Part 91.119) see also (FAA Guide to Low Flying Aircraft), the airport will refer you to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Aircraft Noise Disturbance Process
Regulations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits mandated restrictions of flight paths, hours of operation, and unduly prohibition of open access to airports. The only exception is for airports which had restrictions in place prior to a 1990s congressional act. Therefore, our noise abatement program can only be voluntary. Cape Cod Gateway Airport is prohibited by federal law from levying fines, restricting hours of operation, or restricting access to the airport (or the route by which an aircraft has access to the airport) to aid with noise abatement. We must rely solely on the continual notification, education, and compliance of aircraft operators. Noise abatement is dictated by safety considerations as well as federal law.
Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 91.119, Minimum safe altitudes, prohibits low flying except under the following conditions:
“Sec. 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes: General. Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes: (a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface. (b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle with a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft. (c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. (d) Helicopters. Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA.”
Cape Cod Gateway Airport works with our pilots on a voluntary basis to abate and mitigate noise issues as much as possible. If you have a specific issue or concern please let us know so we can address it. Please follow the steps on "How to Report an Aircraft Noise Disturbance" detailed above.
The airspace at Cape Cod Gateway Airport is governed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Because these programs are voluntary, we ask anyone with a noise concern to please send their feedback directly to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for consideration. The Cape Cod Gateway Airport is not authorized to limit the number of flights or types of aircraft using our facilities. The FAA is the only organization that can formally respond to these inquiries.