Flight Corridors
North Flow Commercial Aircraft Flight Corridors
Air travel routes are the responsibility of the FAA for the safety and efficiency of the national airspace. Illustrations of flight corridors are based on actual airline routes taken in March 2021 and December 2021, when both runways were open. Airliners are depicted below taking off (Departures) by traveling north on the runways. Airliners are depicted landing (Arrivals) on the south end of the runways and taxiing north to the Bailey Terminal.
South Flow Commercial Aircraft Flight Corridors
Air travel routes are the responsibility of the FAA for the safety and efficiency of the national airspace. Illustrations of flight corridors are based on actual airline routes taken in March 2021 and December 2021, when both runways were open. Airliners are depicted below taking off (Departures) by traveling south on the runways. Airliners are depicted landing (Arrivals) on the north end of the runways and taxiing south to the Bailey Terminal.
Runway 4-22 Reopened in
Mid January 2023
The Charlotte County Airport Authority (CCAA) reopened Runway 4-22 on January 14, 2023. Runway 4-22 is the preferred runway for commercial airlines as it is the longest runway at 7,193 feet. Runway 4 is also best oriented for prevailing winds and instrument approach procedures. However, Runway 15-33, which was extended to 6,281 feet in 2020 to handle commercial service, will continue to be used by commercial airlines in 2023 at a lower frequency than in 2022. Air travel routes are the responsibility of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the safety and efficiency of the national airspace.
In an effort to help local residents understand the routes of airliners taking off and landing on each runway, CCAA has worked with engineering consultant AECOM to develop a set of flight corridor maps depicting the FAA-approved routes that pilots most often take. The flight corridor maps were developed using data points from actual takeoffs in landings during the two busiest months of 2021, December and March, when both Runway 15-33 and Runway 4-22 were open.
The flight corridors are depicted in blue for arrivals, and magenta for departures, with the darkest concentration of color illustrating the most common routes for each runway. Residents living in shaded areas at least five miles beyond the airport will likely see airliners at 1,600 feet or higher. Within five miles of the airport, the altitude of aircraft will correspondingly be lower based on its proximity to each runway.
Two different flight corridor maps depict airliners taking off and landing at PGD from both the north and the south.
The maps do not proportionately illustrate the actual frequency of flight operations on each runway. A table of the actual flight operations from October 9, 2020 through January 11, 2022 is included below. This period illustrates the time when both runways 15-33 and 4-22 were open, and can serve as an estimate for future activity when both runways are reopen again.
More Information
Runway Project FAQs
Can Punta Gorda Airport change aircraft flight paths?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has sovereign control over all airspace above the United States and its Territories. Neither the Charlotte County Airport Authority Board nor staff has the legal authority to mandate specific flight paths. We are only allowed to ask pilots to abide by recommended and voluntary noise abatement procedures. Any change in departure or arrival flight paths must be approved and implemented by the FAA.
Can PGD require pilots to follow noise abatement procedures?
PGD’s noise abatement procedures are voluntary. Federal requirements for involuntary noise mitigation programs passed by Congress in 1990 have made it very difficult for airports to impose mandatory restrictions. Airports with mandatory restrictions imposed those programs before the law went into effect.
PGD staff makes local pilots aware of the noise abatement procedures through reflective signage on the airfield, meetings with pilots, and posting maps in the pilot briefing room. Staff has flight tracking software to verify compliance and follows up with repeat offenders. Staff works continuously to communicate with pilots and ensure they are aware of noise sensitive communities.
What if I see a commercial airliner that is not following one of the illustrated paths?
The historic arrival and departure paths shown on this webpage may vary based on weather, safety conditions and air traffic.
Can PGD impose a nighttime curfew for flights?
No. The Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) of 1990 enacted by the FAA does not allow airports to limit timing of aircraft operations, however, it did require a substantial reduction in noise by aircraft manufacturers. As such, Charlotte County Airport Authority worked with Allegiant to become the first Airbus A320 base in 2018, a fleet of planes which is much quieter than the previous MD-80 aircraft.
Since the Airport is a landing location for many types of aircraft and it engages in Interstate commerce (commercial transportation between states), it falls into same category as Interstate I-75. The airport is not allowed to put time limits on when that traveling commerce will occur. Only six U.S. airports have pre-1990 curfews grandfathered by ANCA.
Which runways do the airlines usually use?
Airlines have been using both Runway 4-22 and Runway 15-33 from October 2020 through December 2021. Since 4-22 has reopened, airlines resumed utilizing both runways again.
Why was Runway 4-22 closed for a year?
The runway was constructed in the 1940s and has endured decades of takeoffs and landings, so the center portion of the runway had to be removed and reconstructed along its entire length. The remaining portion of the runway was milled and resurfaced. Both portions of the runway were paved with asphalt, grooved and painted with runway markings. New blast pads were also constructed at each end of the runway, and new energy-efficient lighting was installed.