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MSP Pilot Information

Thank you for taking the time to visit our Pilot Information Page. This page is designed to provide information to pilots about noise issues and abatement procedures at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).

Pilots play an important role in continuing the tradition of environmental excellence at MSP. The following information outlines several noise abatement operational procedures in place at MSP and tips on how pilots can help reduce noise.

Several residential neighborhoods around MSP are impacted by aircraft as they arrive to the airport and establish themselves on the final approach path (especially Runways 35, 12L and 12R). Additional noise is created by the increased drag and disruption of airflow along the aircraft’s surface when a pilot extends his/her landing gear. The frequency and concentration of arriving aircraft and the additional noise created by early aircraft gear extensions have caused concern for impacted neighborhoods and have been the source of several airport noise related complaints.

HOW PILOTS CAN HELP WITH ARRIVAL OPERATIONS AT MSP

When possible, and in compliance with ATC clearances/aircraft standard operating procedures, delay extending your landing gear until it is necessary for a safe landing. Doing so will minimize the additional noise exposure over residential areas created by the extended landing gear.

Noise Abatement Departure Profiles (NADP) were designed to reduce noise exposure for residents living close into an airport (within 3.5 miles/close-in procedure) or further out (beyond 3.5 miles/distant procedure) from an airport.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has designated the distant procedure for all runways at MSP (04,22,30L/R,12L/R, 17). The Distant NADP, sometimes referred to as the “Standard” procedure, is designed to benefit residents further from the airport (beyond 3.5 miles).

Pilots should consult their aircraft’s operating handbook/flight manual to fly the company-specified distant NADP.

HOW PILOTS CAN HELP WITH NADP's

Follow the procedures outlined in your aircraft operating handbook/flight manual to ensure proper implementation of the distant procedure. Fly the procedure each and every time you depart MSP.

The area immediately southeast of MSP beyond the Minnesota River has been purposely developed as commercial/industrial. This provides a unique opportunity to help minimize noise impacts on nearby residents by over-flying this corridor.

Whenever possible, Air Traffic Control will direct departing aircraft to Runways 12L and 12R so that they will over-fly the corridor. To keep jet aircraft within the corridor boundaries ATC will assign specific headings depending on which runway the aircraft is departing from. The corridor headings for jet aircraft are inclusive of 090 degrees, 105 degrees and 120 degrees. A wind corrected heading may also be assigned. Turboprop aircraft will be assigned a non-corridor heading so that the corridor does not become congested and can be used for jet aircraft departures.

HOW PILOTS CAN HELP WITH THE CORRIDOR

Compliance with the corridor procedure is largely dependent on ATC and its ability to assign a corridor heading and/or a wind corrected heading. Pilots should anticipate a corridor heading and a wind corrected heading and should precisely follow assigned headings. By precisely following assigned headings, a greater percentage of jet operations will remain within the corridor boundaries and reduce noise impact on nearby communities.

Runway 17/35 opened October 27, 2005. This 8,000 ft. runway will add an additional 25 percent capacity at MSP. The success of this runway procedure and the success of future development projects at the airport is largely dependent on minimizing noise impacts from operations on this runway to the greatest extent possible.

To help make the runway a success, MAC gained approval for an innovative procedure off Runway 17 that will help reduce noise impacts to residents in close proximity to the departure end.

The procedure is identified as the “Runway 17 Turbojet Departure Procedure”. The Runway 17 Departure Procedure is implemented via ATC instructions to the pilots. The FAA issued a notice (MSP AT N7110.208) stating “All aircraft departing Runway 17 that will be assigned a heading west of runway heading by the Tower shall initially be instructed to fly runway heading. The controller shall issue the appropriate westbound heading after the aircraft is observed reaching the 3.03 DME DBRITE marking.”

HOW PILOTS CAN HELP WITH THE RUNWAY 17 TURBOJET DEPARTURE PROCEDURE

Familiarize yourself with the Runway 17 Departure Procedure as it is the primary procedure off of Runway 17, and precisely follow all ATC instructions. However, during low-demand time periods pilots may receive instructions to perform a different procedure such as the Runway 17 River Published Departure Procedure or the Runway 17 River Departure Heading.

Successful implementation of these procedures will help to reduce residential noise impacts from Runway 17 departures.

Additional Resources

• MSP Pilot Guide
• MSP Airport Diagram
• Digital Terminal Procedures Publication (d-TPP)