Noise Reduction

No matter where Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air operate, it's our practice to be good neighbors and good citizens of the communities we serve. Both companies maintain a strong focus on reducing airplane noise and its impact on the communities we serve. Our noise reduction program focuses on three areas: improved technology, effective land use management, and noise reducing operational procedures. Examples of our actions to reduce noise levels include the following:

• Fleet modernization is a key component to noise reduction, and our oldest and noisiest planes have been retired. Our current fleet is among the youngest and quietest in the U.S.
• We actively participate in discussions with airports regarding land use and operating procedures to minimize noise impacts to surrounding areas.
• We use a noise reducing takeoff procedure as our standard procedure for all flights.
• Instead of using on-board auxiliary power units (APUs), Alaska Airlines is making greater use of ground power and mobile preconditioned air units (PCAs) for aircraft cabin venting, cooling, and heating while parked at a gate. By reducing the use of aircraft APUs, we have helped to significantly reduce airport-noise levels.
• Horizon Air has received several awards for noise management, including the Fly Quiet Awards from San Francisco and Seattle airports.
• Horizon Air's Q400 high-speed turboprops are among the quietest commercial aircraft in the world today. This neighborhood-friendly plane is 10 decibels quieter than a similar-size jet and more than 20 decibels quieter than an MD-80 jet. Even city center airports where stringent noise limitations are in effect have accepted Q400 flights.