We have had a Nighttime Preferential Runway System since the 1970s to minimize the number of people affected by aircraft noise at night. Over the last five decades, the communities around the airport have grown, and the airport has too. Following the spring 2018 consultation on the Six Ideas, the GTAA began a one-year trial of the updated Preferential Runway System (Idea 6). The trial has taken place each night from midnight to 6:30 a.m. The trial was scheduled for February 27, 2020 to February 26, 2021. Based on resident feedback, the trial was extended into 2022 to test the system under higher, non-pandemic, traffic volumes.
This updated system further minimizes the population affected by nighttime aircraft noise and provides residents with more clarity on which runways will be used in which weather conditions. This trial has provided the opportunity to collect operational data and evaluate the practical feasibility of the updated system.
We’re providing another opportunity for you to share your feedback on the trial. All feedback will be included as part of our application to Transport Canada to formalize the trial as a permanent procedure of the GTAA’s Noise Management Program. To provide feedback or for more information about the Preferential Runway System, please fill out the form.
As always, if you have concerns about aircraft noise, please contact the GTAA’s Noise Office at: 416-247-7682 or fill out the online noise complaint form. More information on noise management can be found on the Noise Office webpage.