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Noise Management

The Oshawa Executive Airport is a significant asset for economic growth in the City and for Durham Region. We are committed to balancing our residents' quality of life with the airport's economic benefits.

Transport Canada regulates airport activity. The Oshawa Executive Airport is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, voluntary flight restrictions are in place from 10:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., limiting flights to police, medical and industrial flights and Oshawa-based aircraft returning to the airport.

The Oshawa Executive Airport prides itself on our progressive "Good Community Neighbour" policy. We try to balance the essential service the airport provides and the sensitivity to aircraft noise.

Noise and air traffic concerns

Transport Canada is the regulator, and only the Federal government can regulate airport activity. This means that municipal by-laws cannot be used to regulate aircraft activity and that Members of Council, City staff and the Airport Manager do not have the authority to regulate aircraft activity and no ability to control or limit flight activities. In 2021, the Federal Minister of Transport was contacted by the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby, who advocated that the Federal noise abatement procedures and restrictions for the Oshawa Executive Airport need to be implemented.

The City is committed to ensuring open dialogue and considering the needs of both airport users and community members as we work to fulfill our agreement with the Federal Government to operate the Oshawa Executive Airport until at least 2047. 

General Aircraft Movements:

  • Night Operational Limitations: Between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., only police, medical and industrial emergency flights are permitted to land and take off from the Oshawa Executive Airport. Other airport tenants with aircraft based at the Oshawa Executive Airport are permitted to land during the hours above but are not allowed to take off.

  • Preferential Runway Use: Runway 30 is the preferred runway at the Oshawa Executive Airport (aircraft depart from the southeast to the northwest over Thornton Road and Taunton Road). Aircraft will use this runway when the winds are blowing from a heading of 210 degrees (incrementally) to 30 degrees and up to 5 kn.
  • Departure Procedures: Aircraft leaving the Oshawa Executive Airport will continue to fly on the runway heading until they reach 1,000 feet above sea level (540 ft. above ground level) before they turn off the runway heading.
  • Arrivals Procedures: Aircraft flying into the Oshawa Executive Airport will remain at least 1,000 ft. above sea level (540 ft. above ground level) before turning for their final landing approach.

Flight Training Restrictions (includes private aircraft):

  • Prior permission by the Airport Manager is required for all flight training, including private and commercial pilot recurrent training.
  • A maximum of 12 aircrafts are permitted in the circuit for training purposes on Runway 05/23 at any given time.
  • Flight training aircraft will not utilize a touch-and-go departure pattern on any runway after 4 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday.

During the holiday long weekends, circuit training is not permitted on the Sunday or Monday on any runway. 

At the local level, airports may establish voluntary noise abatement procedures provided they have consensus from all users. However, there is no legal recourse if an airport user violates the voluntary procedure.

Oshawa has voluntary procedures and airport users are reminded of these procedures continuously. In addition, the Oshawa Executive Airport staff routinely monitor aircraft activity. Although we have no recourse if a user violates the procedures, most operators respect the current procedures. 

Noise berms are an effective method of reducing ground based noise. The Airport has established four earthen noise berms on the airport running:

  • in a north-south line and located immediately east of the large hangarminium complex to reduce the noise associated with aircraft operating in the area of the hangars
  • in a northeast-southwest line and located immediately southeast of the threshold for Runway 05 to reduce the noise associated with aircraft exiting and entering the threshold of Runway 05
  • in an east-west line and located immediately south of the threshold for runway 05 to reduce the noise associated with aircraft exiting and entering the threshold of Runway 05
  • in an east-west line and located immediately south of the threshold for Runway 30 and extending to the eastern limit of the airport to reduce the noise associated with aircraft exiting and entering the threshold of Runway 30 

Noise and safety updates

A noise mitigation and safety initiative is underway. The work includes construction of a noise wall and sound barrier and the reconfiguration of Runway 12/30 to help reduce noise over residential neighbourhoods. This work is expected to be completed in fall 2025.

Why these improvements matter

Council has taken significant steps to address and improve the Oshawa Executive Airport by endorsing the Airport Action Plan and advancing capital investments focused on noise mitigation and safety.

The reconfiguration will deliver meaningful benefits by directing more departures to Runway 30 and landings to Runway 12 – Oshawa’s optimal departure and landing corridors. This reconfiguration will enable quieter, higher altitude takeoffs farther from homes, helping to reduce the overall noise footprint over residential neighbourhoods.

About the Airport Action Plan

The Council-approved 2024 Oshawa Executive Airport Action Plan contains eight action items that prioritize operational improvements, aircraft noise mitigation, and public safety alignment as part of the Oshawa Executive Airport’s commitment to being a good community neighbour. These actions are instrumental in helping the airport fulfill its full potential as a vital regional asset.

Next steps

This noise and safety initiative marks a significant step toward creating a more balanced airport model. It strengthens the airport’s role as an executive and emergency response hub, while also reinforcing its position as a vital economic gateway for the region.

We’re committed to keeping the community informed as operational adjustments and improvements are rolled out.

In June 2025, Council directed staff to:

  • advance operational reconfigurations aimed at reducing community noise impacts, balancing aerodrome utilization, and enhancing safety and efficiency; and,
  • pursue strategic partnerships and enhancements that strengthen the Oshawa Executive Airport’s role in supporting national aviation safety, emergency medical response, and Canadian border integrity, in alignment with federal public safety priorities and aviation security best practices; and,
  • explore opportunities that may exist and are related to existing City holdings subject to the City receiving Transport Canada approval, pursuant to the 1997 Operating and Options Agreement between the City and the Government of Canada, wherever required.

To learn more, view Council Report CNCL-25-37

On January 27, 2025, the federal government announced that it will not proceed with building an airport on the Pickering Lands and instead plans to transfer the land to Parks Canada. View the federal government news release.

In May 2024, Council approved the 2024 Oshawa Executive Airport Action Plan.

The Action Plan contains eight action items that prioritize operational improvements, aircraft noise mitigation, and public safety alignment as part of the Oshawa Executive Airport’s commitment to being a good community neighbour. These actions are instrumental in helping the airport fulfill its full potential as a vital regional asset.

To learn more, view Council Report SF-24-24 2024 Oshawa Executive Airport Action Plan.

In 2022, the City submitted to Transport Canada Proposed Noise Abatement Procedures for the Oshawa Executive Airport and Council’s position as expressed in DS-22-67, which requested that the Minister approve a new Noise Abatement Procedure. 

There are two methods available to the City for the establishment of a new noise abatement procedure at the Airport: a voluntary process and a formal process. Both processes are required to be undertaken in the context of Canadian Aviation Regulation 602.105, in compliance with Transport Canada’s Advisory Circular 302-020.

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