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NAPLES AIRPORT:

Friendlier, Quieter Nighttime Skies

As the sun sets at the
Naples Airport Authority,
aircraft traffic begins to
decrease in observation
of the voluntary curfew
from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

by Chris Rozansky, Executive Director, Naples Airport Authority

t’s only taken a year for the Naples Airport We’re happy to recognize NetJets, who decreased their flights
Authority’s voluntary curfew – the “Fly during the quiet hours by 92 percent over the past 12 months.
ISafe, Fly Quiet” program – to see better Elite Jets, a based charter operator, has decreased the number of
results with fewer nighttime flights in our noise their quiet-hour flights by 63 percent, and FlexJet has achieved a
sensitive community, even as demand for private 43 percent reduction in overnight operations.
air travel is greater than ever. We bolstered the Our staff has diligently met with these companies, asking
program in 2022 to minimize the impact of for their voluntary observation of the curfew. Additionally, staff
aircraft noise in our community by proactively continues to inform pilots and customers of the curfew in a
encouraging observance of a quiet time between 10 pm and 7 am. number of ways, including face-to-face conversations in the lobby,
Besides late-night arrivals and early-morning departures, providing literature with the program’s details, brief explanatory
we also saw repetitive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) animations on vending machine screens in the lobby, and signage
required nighttime “touch-and-go” operations by student pilots. throughout the NAA grounds and lobby.
When airport users were asked in 2022 if they were aware of the Plus, staff contacted more than 200 flight schools south of
voluntary curfew, 22 percent of them indicated they didn’t know of Orlando in the past year to explain the voluntary curfew, which
it. Today, when users are surveyed, only 2 percent are unaware of has dramatically decreased the number of student pilots using the
the program. Naples Airport for their required nighttime landings and cross-
We are keenly aware flight plans can change, though. Personal country flights. To reach a much broader audience of pilots and
schedules, weather conditions, and delays caused by air traffic those who enjoy private aviation, we’ve placed advertisements in
control issues during peak demand periods in the winter months industry publications. Throughout the year, many staff attend
can alter flight plans, thereby causing travelers to arrive – or industry events which provide opportunities to explain the
depart – during those late night or early morning hours. When voluntary curfew to airport customers.
flights happen to occur during the voluntary curfew, we reach Adopting voluntary curfew hours is within the ability of the
out to those pilots/travelers to determine the reasons they weren’t NAA to minimize noise impacts. Federal law prevents the airport
able to observe the airport’s quiet hours, and those reasons are from direct enforcement of the curfew, but we can encourage
documented. observing the curfew through a variety of communication channels
The success of this program is attributed to numerous factors, to pilots, operators, customers, and throughout the aviation
particularly the willingness of courteous operators who have industry.
demonstrated their commitment to our community. This year, the To learn more about the “Fly Safe, Fly Quiet” program, go to
Naples Airport Authority (NAA) is recognizing the top three flynaples.com. For a tour of the airport, or to arrange for an NAA
operators for their notable observation of the “Fly Safe, Fly Quiet” speaker at your group’s next meeting, call (239) 643-0733.
program. These results are verified through flight data which is
continuously collected on the airport’s departures and arrivals.
20 Life in Naples | December 2023