Aircraft noise in Leichhardt (2040)
Leichhardt experiences approximately 71 aircraft overflights per day, primarily arrivals at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, passing below 3,000 ft. Helicopters and light aircraft add another 12 low overflights a day. Estimated peak ground noise reaches 89–91 dB — enough to interrupt conversation outdoors. It ranks #10 of 139 Sydney suburbs for aircraft noise exposure. (Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 90 days to 2026-08-21.)
Data: 90 days to 2026-08-21 · all tracked aircraft over Leichhardt · updated monthly
Where the noise comes from
Leichhardt hears traffic from 2 distinct sources:
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
live map →58 overflights/day (82%) · typically 700 ft
Leichhardt sits under the short final for runway 16R — on south-flow days arrivals cross the suburb very low, only minutes from touchdown. This is the heart of the inner west approach corridor, and the curfew's 6am restart is audible on the first arrivals of the day. North-flow days shift the noise to departures further east and give Leichhardt most of its relief.
Helicopters & other light aircraft
12 overflights/day (18%) · typically 500 ft
Around 12 low overflights a day come from aircraft not operating at a tracked airport — helicopters, seaplanes and light aircraft transiting the area. Light-aircraft counts are tracked overflights only — many training and private aircraft carry no ADS-B transponder, so true numbers are higher.
Light-aircraft counts are tracked overflights only — many training and private aircraft carry no ADS-B transponder, so true numbers are higher.
How nearby suburbs compare
| Suburb | Overflights / day | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Lilyfield | 91 | #4 |
| Stanmore | 72 | #8 |
| Leichhardt | 71 | #10 |
| Annandale | 43 | #17 |
| Petersham | 21 | #59 |
| Haberfield | 20 | #63 |
| Summer Hill | 10 | #111 |
Common questions
- Is Leichhardt under a flight path?
- Yes — Leichhardt is directly under Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport flight paths, with around 71 overflights on a typical day, mostly 16R arrivals.
- Which airport's aircraft fly over Leichhardt?
- More than one source: Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (~58/day), other low-flying aircraft (~12/day). The breakdown above shows each source's pattern.
- What time do planes start over Leichhardt?
- The first movements typically pass over Leichhardt around 6:35am, once the curfew (11 PM – 6 AM) ends. Traffic builds through the morning peak.
- Is it quieter in Leichhardt on weekends?
- Not much — weekday and weekend traffic over Leichhardt is similar (74 vs 71 overflights a day).
- Do planes fly over Leichhardt at night?
- The main airport's curfew restricts movements between 11 PM – 6 AM, so overnight overflights are rare. The last movements are typically around 10:14pm.
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