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Hi Neighbors!
We have another update for you on the year-round flight restrictions at Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA) implemented by the FAA on October 20th, following an order from the U.S. Secret Service. This is the 7th newsletter update. You can find previous ones here, here, here, here, here and here.
CCAN Meeting Summary
The Citizens Committee on Airport Noise (CCAN) held its meeting yesterday. We made sure it was live streamed, so if you missed it watch it here.
Here are the meeting highlights:
At the meeting, airport staff shared that the FAA announced earlier that morning it had implemented a flight path change. Aircraft departing PBIA currently fly eastward over residential areas north of Southern Boulevard, following a path similar to their pre-October 20 route. However, now there's a key difference: pilots execute a northeastern turn near Mar-a-Lago, directing flights over Palm Beach's Estate Section. If you want to watch the flight path for any planes going in and out of PBI check out this live flight tracker.
We’re including a press release with additional information lower down in this newsletter.
CCAN members approved the installation of five noise monitors in existing locations, and requested that airport staff work with the Town of Palm Beach to identify a location for a portable monitor as well as discuss the best location for another permanent noise monitor on the Island.
At the next CCAN meeting, scheduled for February 26th at 3:00 P.M. staff will come back with location recommendations for five additional monitors.
CCAN has formed a subcommittee to work on a public-facing dashboard with information from the Airport Noise Monitoring System.
We learned that between November 1st and December 31st, more than 500 complaints were lodged with the county airport. Unsurprisingly, this is a sharp increase, as normally the Department of Airports receives about 50 noise complaints a year.
A handful of people from the public made comments. One of them said they are discussing the possibility of suing the FAA.
Department of Airports Press Release
Palm Beach International Airport Announces FAA Flight Path Changes
West Palm Beach, FL (Jan. 23, 2026) — Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is advising the community of changes to flight paths following updated procedures issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
After the FAA issued a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over Mar-a-Lago on Oct. 20, 2025, the Air Traffic Control Tower at PBI used radar vectors, based on compass headings, to direct aircraft around the restricted airspace. These headings were issued in a fan pattern to provide adequate spacing between departing flights, accounting for differences in aircraft speeds and turn rates.
On Dec. 11, 2025, the FAA published new Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedures for PBI. These updated procedures use Area Navigation (RNAV), which relies on pre-defined routes and waypoints in an aircraft’s onboard navigation system. RNAV procedures provide greater precision than radar vectors. The new procedures became effective Jan. 22, 2026.
Although the new procedures do not restore the historic flight paths, flights are anticipated to be more concentrated over the predefined routes, reducing fanning over certain communities.
“We are hopeful that the standardized procedures will help reduce noise impacts for our community while maintaining safe and efficient operations,” said Palm Beach County Department of Airports Laura Beebe.
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