Martin County, FL Noise Ordinances: Aircraft Noise (2026)

Sec. 555 of Division 12, Subdivision 3, Noise Abatement, apply to every jet and reciprocating aircraft using Witham Field and are based on the 1976 Grumman Aerospace Corporation noise survey of the airport. Sec. A requires jet aircraft to reduce power after takeoff to hold a safe airspeed and a moderate, 1,000-foot-per-minute rate of climb, resuming a normal climb schedule only after reaching 3,000 feet. Sec. B then assigns a specific departure path to each runway unless the control tower directs otherwise: Runway 11 traffic climbs straight out over the golf course toward the St.

Lucie Inlet, Runway 25 traffic makes a slight right turn avoiding the high school toward the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, and the remaining runways climb toward the Indian River or to altitude. Reciprocating aircraft follow a separate pattern under Sec. 553: a 1,000-foot MSL traffic-pattern altitude, all turns to the left, and a climb to 800 feet on runway heading before the first turn from Runways 07, 15, 25 and 29, or 400 feet from Runways 02, 11, 20 and 33. Sec.

554 sets Runway 20 as the preferred runway in calm or moderate wind, with Runways 07 and 11 next in sequence during daylight hours, though the pilot in command may refuse an assigned runway deemed unsafe under federal air regulations. Sec. 555 requires the full text of the subdivision to be displayed in the general aviation terminal and a 'Noise Abatement Procedures Are in Effect at This Airport' sign posted at the entrance to each runway.