Fly Neighborly Program (Voluntary) KSMO local VFR procedures

The current flow at KSMO is uncertain right now (WIND_INFERRED), so whether this procedure applies at this moment is unknown. Live runway page →

Not for navigation. Verify against the official sources linked below before flight.

noise abatement Airport sponsor published verified 2026-08-27 (43 d ago)

Published by the airport sponsor; voluntary unless ATC assigns it. If ATC assigns this route to you in Class B, C or D airspace, that assignment is an ATC instruction and compliance is required (14 CFR 91.123) — and “unable” remains available to the pilot in command.

Voluntary: night arrival curfew 2300-0700 (0800 weekends), 30-minute APU limit, minimum reverse thrust, run-ups away from exposed runway ends.

The route

Voluntary night arrival curfew: avoid arriving 2300-0700 Monday-Friday, or until 0800 on weekends (mandatory enforcement of arrivals is disallowed by federal law)
Limit APU use to thirty minutes; APU start counts as an engine start under the curfew
Minimum reverse thrust use except as necessary for safety, particularly at night
Perform pre-flight run-ups away from the exposed runway ends and in front of the sound attenuation walls whenever possible — extended high power settings on run-up or departure negatively impact the community

When it applies

Runway 3 or 21 — all operations Airport-wide voluntary program; not flow-dependent

Source text, verbatim

Voluntary Night Arrival Curfew. Pilots are requested to avoid operations between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, or until 8 a.m. on weekends. Mandatory enforcement is disallowed by federal law.
Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Limitations. Pilots are requested to limit APU use to thirty minutes. Additionally, the APU is considered an engine start and shall comply with the Airport's curfew restrictions.
Reverse Thrust Use. Due to the ground noise generated by aircraft utilizing reverse thrust upon landing, the Airport recommends minimum reverse thrust use except as necessary for safety, particularly during the nighttime hours.
Pre-Flight Run-Up - Pilots are requested to perform pre-flight run-ups away from the exposed runway ends and in front of the sound attenuation walls whenever possible. Runway 03/21 departure end is in close proximity to residential areas. Extended high power settings on run-up or departure negatively impact the community.

The text above is the published source wording and is authoritative over any summary on this page.

Sources

City of Santa Monica — Fly Neighborly Program City of Santa Monica · retrieved 2026-08-27
FAA Chart Supplement remark via NASR 28-day subscription, cycle 06 Aug 2026 (APT_RMK, SMO: run-up/community impact and curfew remarks) Federal Aviation Administration · retrieved 2026-08-27

All KSMO procedures · KSMO runway in use