HELPP Over Alpine with low-wing plane.

Serving Alpine, California • 91901

Help Eliminate Loud Planes Practicing
Over Alpine

Over the past few years, the number of small planes practicing training maneuvers directly over the tranquil community of Alpine has increased exponentially. As a result, the quality of life in Alpine’s previously serene community is diminishing because of the disruptive bomber-like dives, startling loud stalls and throttle changes, repetitive tight turns, and the daily drone of airplane noise from morning to night. The majority of flights originate from Montgomery-Gibbs, Gillespie Field, and Brown Field airports.

HELPP Over Alpine’s mission is to stop small planes from practicing over the Greater Alpine area. By providing a platform to learn and share stories, we illuminate this abuse and engage our elected representatives, flight schools, and pilots who may be unaware of the stress and frustration these maneuvers are causing.

If the constant noise of planes practicing over your neighborhood impacts you, join our cause and share your story.

Disclaimer: In no way does this indicate that people in Alpine are against planes, pilots, or schools. We have friends, neighbors, and family who are pilots. The only complaint is the chronic, cumulative, and extreme noise introduced by small planes practicing maneuvers overhead. Straight-through flights at constant throttle are not a concern. Neither are commercial jets or military flights.

Illustration of Greater Alpine showing Alpine Heights, Willows, and Viejas Resort

This map shows the neighborhoods in Alpine, an unincorporated city in San Diego County, California.

Satellite view of Alpine with an abundance of green curves displaying the plane N733UC practice flight.
Example flight recorded on Jan 17, 2021, from Cessna N733UC over Alpine. (See more flights on interactive map)

Study of Small-Plane Traffic Over Alpine

496 flights (from approximately 125 individual tail numbers) were recorded over 68 days between 2/7/2021 and 5/14/2021. Of those flights, 387 displayed prolonged practice behavior and are associated with the leasing companies & flight schools/owners shown. Data were compiled on an average of four days-per-week. Planes simply passing through Alpine or performing a single loop are not included.
OrganizationLocationFlight Count
Financial Pacific LeasingMontgomery Field 74
Scandinavian Aviation Academy, Inc.Gillespie Field 68
Sorbi Aviation, Inc.Gillespie Field 46
So. Cal Leasing, LLC.Gillespie Field 38
Coast Flight TrainingMontgomery Field 38
Aero Equities, LLC. (Cal. Baptist) Montgomery Field 22
Dave Simpson Aviation, Inc.Gillespie Field 21
RRG Software, LLC.Montgomery Field 15
D. Gordon Aviation, Inc.Montgomery Field 13
American Aviation Academy, Inc.Gillespie Field 12
High Performance Aircraft, Inc.Gillespie Field 11
First Flight CorporationBrown Field11
Seven Four Zulu, LLC.Montgomery Field 10
Westways Aviation, LLC.Montgomery Field 8

Study of Flight Distribution Per Month (Sample)

Over 68 days between 2/7/2021 and 5/14/2021, 496 flights are distributed as shown. The average duration of small planes practicing maneuvers directly over the residential community of Alpine is 33 minutes per flight. Note: Daily flights counts are subject to weather conditions and daylight hours.
MonthMax Flights per DayFlights CollectedDays Collected
February1710614
March1815023
April1814218
May149813
See the Noise Measurement Study and Findings.