Frequently Asked Questions about Love Field

How Many Runways Are Used at Dallas Love Field?

Love Field has two runways that are in use for operations. Runway 13L/31R (Lemmon Avenue) on the east side of the airport, and Runway 13R/31L (Denton) on the west side of the airport. Runway 18/36 is available for taxing only and is not in use for operational activity.

What Is Air Traffic Flow?

Aircraft must depart into the wind. Air traffic flow is dependent on wind direction and can change throughout the day. Aircraft can be in a north flow in which the plane departs heading to the north from the airport or a plane can depart in a south flow.

Why Do Aircraft Appear to Be Lower over My Home Than Normal?

This may be the result of the direction of the air traffic flow. Dallas Love Field is in a south flow for approximately two-thirds of the year. This means that aircraft are departing to the south and are ascending in altitude over areas to the south and east of the airport. On the occasions when there is a north flow, aircraft are descending in altitude as they are on approach to the airport from the south, which may place the aircraft at a lower altitude as they pass near your home, which should make the aircraft quieter due to it reducing the power necessary for landing.

Can Commercial Aircraft Be Restricted to One Runway?

No. Dallas Love Field is a federally regulated airport. This means that the airport has specific requirements to comply with federal standards. Among these is the requirement that Love Field will not permit any activity or action that would unduly restrict an airport facility’s intended function. This means that operations cannot be restricted to only one runway unless there is just cause, such as construction or maintenance of a runway.

What Is the Voluntary Noise Program?

The voluntary noise program is comprised of many components to help mitigate noise created by aircraft. One component of the voluntary noise program is that pilots of all turbojet aircraft, and aircraft over 12,500 pounds are asked to use the preferential runway 13R/31L (Denton) during the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Dallas Love Field also asks, that between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., that aircraft use the Trinity departure for operations on runway 13R. Another component of the voluntary noise program is frequent communication with Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) at the airport to distribute information about the voluntary noise program to transient pilots.