Residents living near Pearson Airport in Mississauga can expect an increase in aircraft noise during overnight hours for the next few weeks as the airport conducts essential maintenance work on its longest runway.
Starting next Wednesday and continuing until August 25, Runway 05/23, one of Pearson’s three primary east-west runways, will close nightly from midnight until 6 a.m. for maintenance. This closure will redirect overnight flights to the airport’s other runways, likely increasing noise levels in different neighborhoods as planes follow alternate flight paths.
The runway maintenance involves work on the taxiway, which connects runways with various airport facilities like aprons, hangars, and terminals. According to Pearson officials, maintaining these areas is essential to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the airport. “Just like roads and highways, our taxiways and runways need regular maintenance to keep them in good shape. This includes things like grass cutting, rubber removal, patching, electrical work, and line painting,” they stated.
Runway 05/23, at 3,390 meters, is the longest at Pearson. During its closure, more flights will be diverted to the other east-west runways located at the airport’s southern end, or to the north-south runways, potentially bringing increased noise to new areas.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates Pearson, regularly updates residents on runway maintenance schedules and noise advisories. Despite these efforts, airport noise has been a longstanding issue for residents of Mississauga, Brampton, and Toronto, who have been vocal about the disturbances caused by hundreds of daily flights.
To address these concerns, the GTAA holds public meetings and noise forums throughout the year to engage with residents and discuss the impact of airport noise.
This period of increased noise is part of Pearson’s annual runway maintenance season, which began in April and will continue into the fall as necessary upgrades are completed on all five of the airport’s runways.
For more information and regular updates, residents are encouraged to visit the Pearson Airport website.