RULES

SJ-MC tit. 25, ch. 25.12, pt. 3

in effect

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.300 Taxiing.

25.12.300 - Taxiing. No aircraft shall be taxied from the parking area onto a taxiway or runway without clearance from the control tower. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.310 Takeoffs.

25.12.310 - Takeoffs. A. Takeoffs shall be made from the end of the runway designated by the control tower. Runway 30 Left is the preferential takeoff runway. B. All operations shall be confined to hard surface. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.320 Turns.

25.12.320 - Turns. Unless directed by the control tower, no turn after takeoff shall be made until the aircraft has passed the airport boundaries and has gained an altitude of at least four hundred feet above sea level. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.330 Passing.

25.12.330 - Passing. A. There shall be no passing of aircraft in the landing or taxi pattern. B. Glide speeds shall be reasonable and in accordance with manufacturer's specifications. C. Safe distances will be maintained between all aircraft in the pattern and on the landing area. D. Aircraft rolling to a stop after landing shall immediately clear the runway by turning off at the nearest taxiway ahead of the aircraft unless otherwise advised by the control tower. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.340 Traffic pattern - On runways and takeoff.

25.12.340 - Traffic pattern - On runways and takeoff. A. Unless otherwise directed or approved by the control tower, traffic patterns will be left hand for Runways 30L and 12L and right hand for Runways 30R and 12R. B. After takeoff from Runways 30L and 12L, aircraft shall make a normal left turn to leave the traffic pattern. C. After takeoff from Runways 30R and 12R, aircraft shall make a normal right turn to leave the traffic pattern. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.350 Traffic altitude.

25.12.350 - Traffic altitude. A. Normal traffic altitude shall be seven hundred fifty feet above sea level for powered, fixed-wing aircraft of less than twelve thousand five hundred pounds gross weight. B. All fixed-wing aircraft in excess of twelve thousand five hundred pounds gross weight, and turbine-powered, fixed-wing aircraft shall enter the traffic pattern at not less than one thousand five hundred feet above sea level. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.360 Traffic pattern - Entering for landing.

25.12.360 - Traffic pattern - Entering for landing. A. All aircraft shall enter the traffic pattern at a forty-five-degree angle at the start of the downwind leg. B. Unless otherwise directed by the control tower, all aircraft shall make at least two ninety-degree turns of a traffic rectangle before landing. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.370 Landings.

25.12.370 - Landings. A. All landings shall be confined to hard surface and shall be made on the runway designated by the control tower. B. Runway 30 Right is the preferential landing runway. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.380 Noise control.

25.12.380 - Noise control. A. All aircraft approaching from or taking off over populated areas shall be operated so as to make a minimum of engine and propeller noise. B. Where federal regulations are not applicable, all aircraft on final approach to Runways 30 or 12, which are operating at less than one thousand feet above sea level, shall maintain an approach path which is not less than two hundred seventy-eight feet above the airport for each statute mile distance from the landing end of the runways. C. When approaching to land on Runway 30, this requirement results in a minimum aircraft altitude of six hundred eighteen feet above sea level over Santa Clara Street in the downtown area and two hundred four feet altitude above sea level over Highway 17. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.390 Air traffic and direction indicators - Compliance required.

25.12.390 - Air traffic and direction indicators - Compliance required. Pilots shall comply and obey traffic direction indicators that are installed from time to time at the airport. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.400 Airport may refuse clearance.

25.12.400 - Airport may refuse clearance. The director may delay, suspend or restrict any or all flight operations at the airport and may refuse takeoff clearance to any aircraft without regard to weather conditions whenever such action is deemed necessary in the interest of public safety. (Ord. 25529.)

San José Municipal Code § 25.12.410 Surplus military aircraft - Operation requirements.

25.12.410 - Surplus military aircraft - Operation requirements. A. For the purpose of this section, "surplus military aircraft" means any single-engine military-type aircraft, which is no longer owned by the federal government, with a gross weight, in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, of over four thousand pounds and which has an engine with a takeoff horsepower rating in excess of one thousand horsepower. B. No person shall land at or take off from the airport in a surplus military aircraft unless he or she shall have met one of the following requirements: 1. Have in his or her possession proof of having previously flown a surplus military aircraft of the same make and model; such proof to be made by proper entries in a pilot's log, or if the log is lost, by proper affidavit in lieu thereof; or 2. Have in his or her possession a letter or other written instrument signed by a person qualified as required in subdivision 1 of this subsection, hereof, stating that the applicant has been checked out by a qualified pilot in a North American T-6 or comparable aircraft, and that in the opinion of the qualified pilot, the applicant is qualified to fly a surplus military aircraft. C. No person shall land on or take off from Runways 12 Right/Left in a surplus military aircraft unless he or she shall have previously made twelve landings on and twelve takeoffs from Runways 30 Left/Right, and shall have in his or her possession a pilot's log, or if the log is lost, a proper affidavit in lieu thereof, showing that he or she has made twelve landings on and twelve takeoffs from Runways 30 Left/Right. (Ord. 25529.)

Source: City of San José, Municipal Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT25AI_CH25.12AIOPAITRRU_PT3RUFetched: 11/1/2026