That's not just noise. That's a Southwest 737 at 1,800 feet.
Every plane that passes over the neighborhood is broadcasting its own position, altitude, and speed — it's public radio, anyone can listen. This map turns that into something readable: point at any aircraft overhead and see exactly what it is, where it came from, and where it's headed.
What you'll see
● TAP ANY PLANE ON THE MAPSome flights are flagged automatically
A couple of general aviation aircraft pass over the neighborhood below 1,000 feet most hours — under 14 CFR § 91.119(b), that's below the FAA's minimum safe altitude over populated areas. The map marks any aircraft below that floor in red, with its tail number and exact altitude, so you can identify precisely which flight it was.
How this works
● NO APP OR ACCOUNT NEEDEDMost aircraft carry a system called ADS-B, which automatically announces their position over unencrypted radio, roughly once a second. A small receiver nearby picks up that signal and this site turns it into a live map — no account, no app, just open the page.
It updates in real time, so the plane you're hearing right now is the plane you'll see on the map. Click it for the full picture: flight number, altitude, ground speed, and the route it's flying.
Questions neighbors actually ask
● GOOD TO KNOWWhy is it so loud right now?
Wind direction changes which runway airports use, which can shift a normally quiet flight path directly overhead for a day or two.
Is that plane circling?
Often it's a holding pattern for landing traffic, or a training flight practicing approaches. Both show up clearly on the map as loops.
Is that flight breaking the altitude rule?
Airline traffic like the Southwest flight above is almost always well clear of the minimum. General aviation traffic is a different story — this receiver logs a couple of GA flights an hour showing below the 14 CFR § 91.119(b) floor of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within 2,000 feet. Two caveats: the altitude shown is barometric, not measured above the ground or nearby structures, and the rule doesn't apply during takeoff or landing. If a reading looks genuinely low for no obvious reason, note the tail number, time, and altitude and report it through the FAA Hotline, or contact your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) directly — they're the ones who can actually investigate it.
Where do I report a noise concern?
Most airports run a noise complaint line or online form — search "[airport name] noise complaint" and have the flight number handy from the map.
Next time a plane rattles your windows, look up the answer.
The map is free, live, and doesn't need an account — just open it whenever you're curious.
Open the live map