Fly Quiet Program

On June 17, 1997, the City of Chicago announced that airlines operating at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare) had agreed to use designated noise abatement flight procedures in accordance with the Fly Quiet Program. This program was implemented in an effort to reduce the impacts of aircraft noise on neighborhoods surrounding O'Hare.

The Fly Quiet Program is a voluntary program that encourages pilots and air traffic controllers to use designated nighttime preferential runways and flight tracks developed by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) in cooperation with the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC), the airlines and the air traffic controllers. These preferred routes are intended to direct aircraft over less-populated areas, such as forest preserves and highways, as well as commercial and industrial areas.

Fly Quiet Program Manual
Quarterly Fly Quiet Reports
Fact Sheet - Fly Quiet Program at Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Fact Sheet - Ground Run-Up Enclosure at O'Hare International Airport
Ground Run-Up Procedures Manual
Nighttime Construction Awareness Program 2019 (June to November)
Nighttime Construction Awareness Program 2008-2016

Interim Fly Quiet Runway Rotation (IFQ)

In 2018, the CDA submitted an Interim Fly Quiet Runway Rotation (IFQ) proposal to the FAA and has subsequently received approval of a temporary program that will begin November 2019 until Runway 9C-27C commissioning in late 2020. The IFQ Runway Rotation program was developed in collaboration with the ONCC and will occur during the overnight hours when demand requires one arrival and one departure runway. IFQ includes an eight-week schedule that rotates the primary arrival and departure runways to balance the overnight noise. It is expected that significant runway construction, maintenance, and/or pavement rehabilitation on Runways 4L-22R and 4R-22L will impact the IFQ during the 2019 and 2020 construction seasons, respectively.

The FAA conducted an environmental analysis called the Written Re-Evaluation of the O'Hare Modernization Environmental Impact Statement for the Interim Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Plan. The CDA's submittal and subsequent approval can be found below.

Interim Fly Quiet CDA Submittal
Interim Fly Quiet FAA Approval
Interim Fly Quiet Schedule (Summary)

Interim Fly Quiet Schedule (Detailed)

Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test

Test 1

The CDA submitted a Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test (Test 1) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for approval of a six-month period. The purpose of the test was to evaluate a condition that could be in place until Runway 15/33 is permanently closed. Test 1 occurred during the overnight hours when demand required one arrival and one departure runway. Test 1 included a 25-week schedule that consisted of 12 weekly periods intended to balance the overnight noise. Each new week began on Sunday evening at 10 p.m. or after when demand allowed for one arrival and one departure runway.

Test 2

The CDA submitted a second Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test (Test 2) to the FAA for approval of a twelve-week test period. The purpose of the test was to:

1) Test the capabilities of the different configurations after responding to FAA concerns

2) Test new configurations that were not included in Test 1

Test 2 occurred during the overnight hours when demand required one arrival and one departure runway. Test 2 included a 12-week schedule that consisted of 12 weekly periods intended to balance the overnight noise. Each new week began on Sunday evening at 10 p.m. or after when demand allowed for one arrival and one departure runway.

Test 3

The CDA submitted a third Fly Quiet Runway Rotation Test (Test 3) to the FAA for approval of a twelve-week test period. The purpose of the test was to test a condition that could be in place during the period of time between Runway 15/33 decommissioning until Runway 9C/27C commissioning. Test 3 occurred during the overnight hours when demand required one arrival and one departure runway. Test 3 included a 12-week schedule that consisted of 12 weekly periods intended to balance the overnight noise. Each new week began on Sunday evening at 10 p.m. or after when demand allowed for one arrival and one departure runway.