Fifty years ago, Buttonville Airport consisted of a grass runway surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland and country roads. Today, Toronto Buttonville Airport is ranked as one of the top ten airports in Canada, employing over 300 people from the environs and housing over 300 aircraft for local residents, businesses and its own aircraft services. Just as the airport has grown, so has the area around it. Today, Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport is surrounded by two rapidly expanding communities, the Town of Markham and The Town of Richmond Hill.

In response to neighbours' concerns such as safety and noise reduction, the management of Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport developed a special policy. Called the 'Good Neighbour Policy' it confirms the airport's ongoing efforts to maintain the highest possible level of safety standards and noise control.

Good Neighbour Policy

Like trucks and trains, aircraft can be noisy and intrusive at times, but they are an essential part of the economic strength of the community.

The Good Neighbour Policy was developed by Buttonville Airport to do it's best to protect neighbours from aircraft noise. The airport implemented these procedures out of respect for its neighbours and the neighbourhood.

Once the policy was made, it was immediately incorporated into two pilot reference manuals; the Canada Flight Supplement and the Canada Air Pilot. The following sections regarding noise reduction procedures were taken directly from the policy.

Noise Abatement Procedures, Fixed Wing Aircraft

Buttonville Airport is available to aircraft 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. The Control Tower is open from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. daily. All aircraft wishing to use the airport after hours may do so provided they adhere to the strict noise abatement procedures listed below.

Departure Procedures:

No turns below 1150' ASL (500' AGL) on all runways. No left turns below 1650' ASL (1000' AGL) on runway 15.

Arrival Procedures:

• Turns to final approach will be made at or above 1150' ASL (500' AGL).
• All approaches to remain above or on assumed 3.0 Glide Slope
• Right hand circuit on Rwy. 15. Circuit height 1650' ASL (1000' AGL) except as specifically authorized by Air Traffic Control.

Airport Operating Restrictions:

• No practice circuits outside of YKZ control Tower hours of operation.
• No practice IFR approaches outside YKZ Control Tower hours of operation.
• No practice Engine Failure on Take Off procedure (E.F.T.O.'s) in the YKZ Positive Control Zone.
• No touch and go circuits by excessively noisy aircraft.

NOTE: It is every pilot's responsibility to adhere to the published Noise Abatement Procedures.

Neighbour to Neighbour, Ongoing Noise Management

The management of Buttonville Airport is dedicated to the task of effective noise management and control, and have issued the following directions to regular and occasional users:

• We have asked the Control Tower to broadcast a message reminding all aircraft that strict noise abatement procedures are in effect for Buttonville Airport 24 hours a day.
• We have sent letters to our regular users to remind them of the noise abatement procedures.
• We are continually assessing the latest industry information on aircraft noise and flight operation.
• We keep in constant contact with or regular users to ensure that any after-hours flight activity is essential and to discuss possible operating alternatives.
• We ensure that flight instructors teach their students the noise abatement procedures and strictly enforce them during training flights.
• We remind all pilots who rent aircraft through Buttonville Airport that there is a Good Neighbour Policy in effect.

An active supporter of many commendable charities, Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport contributes to a multitude of philanthropic events.

For example, for the past five years, Buttonville Airport has hosted an annual Open House each September, with all proceeds benefiting The Children's Aid Foundation of York Region.

Buttonville Airport Community Committee

Early in 1999, the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport commissioned an independent consultant to chair a special committee. Consisting of local and regional representatives from the Town of Markham and Richmond Hill and the Region of York, representatives from various aviation related companies and local residents, their mandate was to share their ideas and address any specific concerns they had regarding the airport.

As a result, an airport telephone complaints line was established at Buttonville Airport to allow residents to voice concerns due to excessive noise from aircraft not adhering to the strict procedures outlined in the Good Neighbour Policy. The Community Airport Access Complaints Line number is 905-477-8113.

All members of this committee, known as the Buttonville Airport Community Committee (B.A.C.C.), are encouraged to voice their experiences with the airport and to look at ways in which the committee can continue to keep relations between the airport and the community positive and strong. The Committee meets regularly throughout the year. For meeting dates, times and agendas, please contact the Committee Secretary, Stephen Chait at 905-475-4871 or email schait@markham.ca

For more information, please call:

• Derek Sifton, Vice President of Toronto Airways Ltd., or
• Dave Dayment, Airport Operations Manager of Toronto Airways Ltd. (owners and operators of Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport at: 905-477-8100; or
• Milt Farrow, Chairman of B.A.C.C. at 416-399-5739
• Stephen Chait, Committee Secretary at 905-475-4871

You may also contact:

• Markham Ward 6 Councillor Dan Horchik at 905-479-7758 or e-mail dhorchik@markham.ca
  
  
• Richmond Hill Ward 3 Councillor David Cohen at 905-771-5434 or e-mail cohen@dlcohen.com
  
  
• Richmond Hill Ward 6 Councillor Godwin Chan at 905-771-2509 or e-mail gchan@richmondhill.ca
  
  
• Toronto Buttonville Airport, 2833 - 16th Avenue, Box 100, Markham, ON. L3R 0P8.
  Community Airport Access Complaints Line: 905-477-8113.

Note: Information received by Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport will be provided to the Buttonville Airport Community Committee (B.A.C.C.).