Airplane Noise in the Southeast (Kirtland, Hurley: work, university, construction)

[Riverdog]

I was wondering if anyone on the forum lives in the Southeast area around Highland High School, kind of in the area east of the school and west of the Air Force Base. I know people will go on about the dubious safety of the area, but besides that, I'd like an opinion on the noise from the base and/or the airport? Are there bunches of planes flying loudly by, that sort of thing? If so, only when the weather is bad, or all the time?

Thanks!

[mortimer]

My experience in the area is that about 5-10% of the time, the airplanes will land from the N on the runway that is oriented approximately N-S such that the plane some in between Girard and Carlisle.

Anywhere in the University area to San Mateo S of Lomas, you are going to hear the F-16's and other loud planes when they turn way off at the airport on the ground and their engines face your direction.

For me, it tended to become background noise except when a group of F-16's would do their "Carrier Break" (I was once told that was the term) landing pattern and the group of them would come in about a minute apart.

The noise of the planes was not that bothersome compared to all the cheap car alarms that go off if you breath on them. The planes would pass in 10-15 seconds, but the alarms would go off for a number of minutes playing all kinds of different alarm sounds. You know the type; just when you think the deluge of useless noise is over, another one would take its place.

[Riverdog]

Thanks, Mortimer. This will definitely influence our decision. . .especially the bit about the car alarms.

[mortimer]

I lived next to a parking lot, so that is why I remember the car alarm plague.

[6/3]

Riverdog ....i live and work in the SE Hieghts and the Airport and AFB noise rarely bothers me. I believe most the commercial jets takeoff heading east toward the mountain where there is no city limits but just the AFB boundary.

My company transfered me into this part of town and i've never had a problem over here.They have really fixed up this part of town over these last several years and are still building on Gibson Blvd and Nob Hill area and the new area south of the airport called Mesa Del Sol is booming.

6/3

[trappedinNM]

A quick review of my Rapid Rewards and United Airlines accounts indicate I have taken ~50 trips out of Abq in the last two years. I don't remember using the N/S runway even once during all of those flights. We usually depart to the east, and usually land from the west.

If anything, I would think the SW valley gets the worst of it; many arrivals come right across the south valley.

I do remember the "Tacos" when I lived near UNM (closer to Gibson) but they never bothered me. I miss having the time to sit at the edge of the runway and watch them. That, or course, was pre 9-11, when one could still do that.

[Riverdog]

6 Foot 3

That area does look pretty good to us, which is why we are seriously considering it. Good to know you haven't had any problems, and thanks for sharing your experience of the noise, or lack thereof. We've seen all the new construction, and we're hoping if we do buy there, it will be as up & coming as it seems.


Trapped In NM -

Thanks for the will-informed advice. Actually we were looking at a few places that are sort of SW (around Pat Hurley park), and knowing that might be in the flight path I think we will take that into consideration. But, um. . .what are the "Tacos?"

[abqsunport]

The North/South Runway is only used when there are severe cross winds, otherwise it has been shutdown. You will not ever see another plane take off from that runway unless there is an absolute need.

[trappedinNM]

Originally Posted by abqsunport

The North/South Runway is only used when there are severe cross winds, otherwise it has been shutdown. You will not ever see another plane take off from that runway unless there is an absolute need.

I wondered if that was the case. Good info.

[6/3]

The AFB has always been more of a research base i.e. Nuclear and Laser and High Energies technologies etc...and not alot Bombers or Fighters stationed there so the noise has always been minimal. I know the Ospry's are there now and a few times they have flown over us and our loud but thats been far and few as that goes. Kirtland may get the new F-35 fighter wing but that's still undecided right now.