SAN MARCOS - The Palomar Airport Advisory Committee will consider a plan tonight that would give pilots landing at McClellan-Palomar Airport choices for reducing noise in area neighborhoods by approaching the airport along different routes.

The Voluntary Noise Abatement plan, which focuses primarily on neighborhoods in San Marcos, was spearheaded by Mayor Jim Desmond in April 2006.

It identifies sensitive areas along the approach path to the Carlsbad airport, and points out industrial and commercial areas that pilots can fly over instead while still following Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.

Handouts with easy-to-read, color-coded maps would be printed and distributed to pilots, instructors and students, said Desmond, who is a pilot with Delta Airlines.

Palomar Airport currently has voluntary procedures to lessen noise for pilots taking off from Palomar, but not for those landing, said Desmond.

Three mobile-home parks are on the sloping hills of western San Marcos, directly under the flight path to the airport, and residents there say they are buzzed by planes day and night.

Palomar Airport is open 24 hours, but recommends that pilots of jets, which are louder, don't fly between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

While the noise may be annoyance, airport officials determined in 2005 that it was not enough to warrant mandatory changes to flight paths.

Data from an airport noise monitor showed that planes create noise comparable to the humming of a dishwasher, but over a 24-hour period, noise levels do not exceed city standards for residential areas.

About 15 and 20 times a day, however, the airplane noise is above 70 decibels for six-second periods, similar to the noise made by a vacuum cleaner. At certain points, noise has reached about 88 decibels, comparable to noise made by a food blender, officials said.

Desmond said he was made aware of residents' concerns while campaigning for City Council in 2004.

He formed an adjunct committee to study the issue and make recommendations. The plan voted on tonight culminates the committee's work.

"This plan will be an update of all arrival and departure (procedures)," said Desmond. "The major change is now arrival noise. It will be available to all the pilots and flight schools and airport operators at Palomar Airport."

A draft of the report was submitted to local federal aviation representatives and then to the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee two months ago. If the committee approves it tonight, it will be forwarded to the local Federal Aviation Administration control tower for "final input," said Jim Swain, the noise specialist at Palomar and a member of the airport advisory committee.

In addition to the new recommendations on noise abatement, the committee will also vote tonight on what funding sources to tap to cover the costs of developing the plan and printing and distributing the pamphlets, said Swain.

Money could come from the county Board of Supervisors and cities around the airport, he said.

Swain, who is sensitive to stepping into the aviation administration's territory, said the rules for pilots won't change, but that the pilots would simply be advised of residential areas below them.

"They're not restricted from flying over residential areas," Swain said. "What this is, is a voluntary noise-abatement program and method of getting information out to pilots about where the noise-sensitive areas are. They're still required to follow air traffic control instructions."

When given a designated "squire," or landmark, by the control tower, a pilot can guide his aircraft over an industrial area, such as the Vista Industrial Park, to reach the landmark rather than neighborhoods, he said.

"When the tower reports squires, seldom do they give specific course guidance to get to that point," he said. "This map handout brings into (focus) the part the control tower doesn't really address."

The plan would also update information on areas that have been built since the last handout on takeoff paths was issued.

The meeting of the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee is set for 7 p.m. in the Carlsbad City Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.

- Contact staff writer Ned Randolph at (760) 761-4411 or nrandolph@nctimes.com.