¿Hace mucho ruido el aeropuerto Olaya Herrera? Is Olaya Herrera airport loud?

It depends entirely on where you are in the Aburrá Valley. Because the single runway runs north-south along the valley floor with mountains on both sides, all traffic climbs and descends low over the neighbourhoods at each end — Guayabal, Cristo Rey, Belén and Campo Amor hear it most. But the field has a weight limit of about 20,430 kg, so most traffic is turboprops (Dash 8, ATR), light jets and general aviation — a higher-pitched buzz rather than the roar of a full-size airliner. SATENA's Embraer 170 regional jet is a notable exception. Drop a pin on the map above to see your street's exposure.

¿Por qué pasan aviones tan bajos sobre Belén y Guayabal? Why do planes fly so low over Belén and Guayabal?

The airport sits at about 1,500 m elevation on the floor of the Aburrá Valley, boxed in by steep mountain walls. Aircraft cannot turn out over the ridges, so they climb and descend straight along the valley — which keeps them low directly over Belén, Guayabal, Campo Amor and Cristo Rey at each runway end. The pin-drop map above shows how altitude increases as you move further north or south down the valley.

How does the runway 02 / 20 flight path work? ¿Cómo es la ruta de la pista 02/20?

Olaya Herrera has one runway, 02/20, aligned roughly north (02) to south (20) along the valley. In one configuration runway 02 sends traffic north up the valley toward La América, Laureles and central Medellín; in the other, runway 20 routes it south over Itagüí, Envigado and Sabaneta. Which end is in use depends on the wind, and it can switch during the day, shifting the overflight from one set of neighbourhoods to the other.

Do big jets and airliners use Olaya Herrera?

Mostly no. A weight restriction of about 20,430 kg keeps mainline airliners and heavy jets out, so traffic is dominated by turboprops, light jets and general aviation. The documented exception is SATENA's Embraer 170, a 76-seat regional jet that operates into EOH. Medellín's larger flights — and all wide-body international traffic — use José María Córdova (MDE/SKRG) in Rionegro, about 35 km away, not Olaya Herrera.

Is El Poblado affected by airport noise?

El Poblado's northern sector sits across the Medellín River, east of the field. It catches some overflight but is laterally offset from the runway centerline, so exposure is moderate rather than high — noticeably less than the neighbourhoods directly off the runway ends. Drop a pin on your specific block to see the count.

How do I make a noise complaint about Olaya Herrera? ¿Cómo presento una queja por ruido (PQRS)?

Complaints go through the Establecimiento Público Aeropuerto Olaya Herrera's citizen-service (PQRSDF / Atención al Ciudadano) channel, online at aeropuertoolayaherrera.gov.co or by phone on +57 604 403 6780. Note that Olaya Herrera is a separate facility from José María Córdova in Rionegro — make sure your complaint references EOH/SKMD.

Medellín Flight Path Noise Map – Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH)

Name: Aircraft noise observations near Olaya Herrera Airport
Creator: Flight Path Noise
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aircraft noise around Medellín in October 2026

Loudest neighborhoods near Medellín: Guayabal (Comuna 15), Cristo Rey, Belén, Campo Amor. Quietest: Itagüí (centre), El Centro (La Candelaria), Sabaneta, Robledo. Busiest around 10 AM local time averaging 186 flights/day. Source: Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 30 days to 2026-10-19.

Flights by hour · last 30 days

12a6a12p6p

Average daily traffic

186

flights / day · 5,573 total

Busiest hour

10 AM

peak 88 dB

Loudest hour

9 AM

peak 95 dB

Loudest residential area

Laureles-Estadio

57 dB avg · ~176 flights/day · Normal conversation

Under the northern (runway 02) climb and approach corridor, though aircraft are higher this far out

Does Medellín Airport have a curfew?

Partial — a de-facto daylight-only operation (no scheduled flights after ~6 PM).

There is a de facto night curfew. Olaya Herrera operates in daylight only — roughly 05:30 to 18:30 local — and the airport’s own communications confirm that no flights depart after 6:00 PM. This is driven by the surrounding mountainous terrain and the lack of a precision ILS rather than a published noise ordinance, but the effect is the same: residents get a reliably quiet evening and overnight. Aircraft that stay on the field overnight are there for maintenance, not flights.

Olaya Herrera (EOH/SKMD) is one of the most unusual major airports in the Americas — a single-runway regional airfield wedged directly into the densely built floor of Medellín’s Aburrá Valley, at roughly 1,500 m elevation and ringed on all sides by city blocks and steep mountain walls. Because the runway is hemmed in by terrain and has no precision ILS, the airport operates daylight only and flies no scheduled night services — the single defining fact for residents. Departures and arrivals thread north-south along the narrow valley, low over Belén, Guayabal and the Itagüí/Envigado fringe. A weight cap (about 20,430 kg) keeps most heavy jets out, so the noise is the higher-pitched buzz of Dash 8s, ATRs and light aircraft rather than airliner roar. The trade-off locals know well: an airport in the heart of the city, but a constant daytime overhead drone for those directly under the valley corridor — and reliably quiet evenings.

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

Olaya Herrera has a single runway, 02/20 (2,500 m × 38 m asphalt), laid along the north-south axis of the Aburrá Valley with high mountain walls on both flanks. There is no second runway and no way to route aircraft over the ridges, so the overflight pattern is unusually simple: everything climbs and descends along the valley floor. That makes the neighbourhoods directly off each runway end — and immediately beside the field — by far the most exposed.

Area	Aircraft noise	Why
Guayabal (Comuna 15)	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Hosts the field; under both runway ends at low altitude
Cristo Rey	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Directly off the runway 20 (south) end, under low climb-out and approach
Belén	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Dense comuna immediately west, squarely under the valley flow
Campo Amor	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Abuts the western edge of the airfield beside the runway
El Rodeo / Belén Rincón	✈︎✈︎	Near the southern approach, slightly off centerline
La Colina / San Bernardo (Itagüí N)	✈︎✈︎	Beneath the extended runway 20 track down-valley
El Poblado (north)	✈︎✈︎	East across the river; overflight but offset from centerline
La América	✈︎✈︎	Along the runway 02 departure path up the valley
Laureles-Estadio	✈︎✈︎	Under the northern climb/approach corridor, higher up
Envigado (north)	✈︎✈︎	On the runway 20 corridor but laterally offset
Itagüí (centre)	✈︎	Further down the southern corridor; aircraft higher
El Centro (La Candelaria)	✈︎	Under the runway 02 flow at greater altitude
Sabaneta	✈︎	Far down the southern valley; distant, high overflight
Robledo	✈︎	Hillside comuna off the main flight track

If aircraft noise is a primary concern, the practical move in Medellín is off the valley centerline — the western hillsides around Robledo, or down-valley sectors like central Itagüí, Sabaneta and El Centro where aircraft have already climbed well above the rooftops. The areas hugging the runway ends (Guayabal, Cristo Rey, Belén, Campo Amor) are the most consistently affected; if you’re looking at apartments there, drop a pin on the map above to see your specific block.

Flight patterns and runway use

Everything at Olaya Herrera is shaped by the valley. The runway (02/20) runs roughly north (02, ~016°) to south (20, ~196°), and which end is in use depends on the wind:

Runway 02 (north flow) sends departures and arrivals up the valley toward La América, Laureles-Estadio, central Medellín and El Centro. Aircraft are low over the northern runway end and climb as they head down-valley.
Runway 20 (south flow) routes traffic south over Cristo Rey, then Itagüí, Envigado and Sabaneta. The southern runway end is the low point of the approach and climb-out.

Because the field sits at ~1,500 m and is boxed in by terrain, aircraft stay relatively low over the surrounding neighbourhoods at both ends, and there’s little lateral spread — the corridor is as narrow as the valley itself. The weight restriction (~20,430 kg) limits traffic to turboprops (Dash 8, ATR), light and regional jets and general aviation rather than mainline airliners; SATENA’s Embraer 170 is the notable exception that exceeds the usual cap.

Note this airport is not José María Córdova (MDE/SKRG) in Rionegro — that larger airport, about 35 km east over the mountains, handles Medellín’s wide-body and international traffic. Olaya Herrera is the in-city regional field.

Formal published noise-abatement and preferential-runway procedures were not confirmed in public sources; in practice the dominant noise control here is the terrain-driven, daylight-only operating window. The route-density layer on the map above shows the pattern clearly: a single bright north-south band tracing the valley floor, fading at each end as aircraft gain altitude.

When is it quietest?

Olaya Herrera’s daily noise profile is unusually clean-cut because the airport simply does not operate at night:

Overnight (after ~18:30 to ~05:30): effectively silent. No flights depart after 6:00 PM, and there are no scheduled night arrivals — aircraft on the field overnight are there for maintenance only. This guaranteed quiet evening is the single best thing about living near this airport.
Early morning (~05:30 – 08:00): traffic ramps up quickly as the daylight window opens; the first departures of the day.
Daytime (08:00 – 17:00): the steady, sustained period — the near-constant daytime drone that residents directly under the corridor describe.
Late afternoon (17:00 – 18:30): the final push of arrivals and departures racing to finish before the daylight cutoff.

The other variable is wind, which decides whether runway 02 (north) or runway 20 (south) is active. A shift during the day moves the overflight from the northern neighbourhoods (La América, Laureles) to the southern ones (Cristo Rey, Itagüí, Envigado), or vice versa.

For your specific address, drop a pin on the map above to see the hourly profile.

How to check noise at your specific address

The map above is the answer to “is this spot loud?” Three steps:

Search your address or postcode in the bar at the bottom of the map.
Drop a pin — click the location marker that appears.
Read the noise report in the sidebar: average daily noise (Leq), peak observed dB, flights per day passing within 2 km, and an hourly breakdown.

The Noise Heatmap layer (orange/red = louder) and the Route Density layer (purple/magenta = busier corridors) make the single-valley pattern obvious — one north-south ribbon down the floor of the Aburrá Valley. Most addresses set back from the runway ends and off the centerline will land in the quieter zone for daytime noise, and the daylight-only schedule takes care of evenings and overnight on its own.

To raise a formal noise complaint, contact the Establecimiento Público Aeropuerto Olaya Herrera citizen-service (PQRSDF) channel at aeropuertoolayaherrera.gov.co or on +57 604 403 6780 — and be sure to reference EOH/SKMD, since it’s a separate facility from José María Córdova in Rionegro.

Frequently asked questions

¿Hace mucho ruido el aeropuerto Olaya Herrera? Is Olaya Herrera airport loud?: It depends entirely on where you are in the Aburrá Valley. Because the single runway runs north-south along the valley floor with mountains on both sides, all traffic climbs and descends low over the neighbourhoods at each end — Guayabal, Cristo Rey, Belén and Campo Amor hear it most. But the field has a weight limit of about 20,430 kg, so most traffic is turboprops (Dash 8, ATR), light jets and general aviation — a higher-pitched buzz rather than the roar of a full-size airliner. SATENA's Embraer 170 regional jet is a notable exception. Drop a pin on the map above to see your street's exposure.
¿Por qué pasan aviones tan bajos sobre Belén y Guayabal? Why do planes fly so low over Belén and Guayabal?: The airport sits at about 1,500 m elevation on the floor of the Aburrá Valley, boxed in by steep mountain walls. Aircraft cannot turn out over the ridges, so they climb and descend straight along the valley — which keeps them low directly over Belén, Guayabal, Campo Amor and Cristo Rey at each runway end. The pin-drop map above shows how altitude increases as you move further north or south down the valley.
Which Medellín neighbourhoods are quietest for aircraft noise?: Areas off the north-south valley centerline and further from the runway ends fare best — Robledo on the western hillsides, plus down-valley sectors like central Itagüí, Sabaneta and El Centro where aircraft have already gained altitude. The most consistently affected areas are the ones hugging the runway ends: Guayabal, Cristo Rey, Belén and Campo Amor. Check any address on the map above.
How does the runway 02 / 20 flight path work? ¿Cómo es la ruta de la pista 02/20?: Olaya Herrera has one runway, 02/20, aligned roughly north (02) to south (20) along the valley. In one configuration runway 02 sends traffic north up the valley toward La América, Laureles and central Medellín; in the other, runway 20 routes it south over Itagüí, Envigado and Sabaneta. Which end is in use depends on the wind, and it can switch during the day, shifting the overflight from one set of neighbourhoods to the other.
Do big jets and airliners use Olaya Herrera?: Mostly no. A weight restriction of about 20,430 kg keeps mainline airliners and heavy jets out, so traffic is dominated by turboprops, light jets and general aviation. The documented exception is SATENA's Embraer 170, a 76-seat regional jet that operates into EOH. Medellín's larger flights — and all wide-body international traffic — use José María Córdova (MDE/SKRG) in Rionegro, about 35 km away, not Olaya Herrera.
Is El Poblado affected by airport noise?: El Poblado's northern sector sits across the Medellín River, east of the field. It catches some overflight but is laterally offset from the runway centerline, so exposure is moderate rather than high — noticeably less than the neighbourhoods directly off the runway ends. Drop a pin on your specific block to see the count.
How do I make a noise complaint about Olaya Herrera? ¿Cómo presento una queja por ruido (PQRS)?: Complaints go through the Establecimiento Público Aeropuerto Olaya Herrera's citizen-service (PQRSDF / Atención al Ciudadano) channel, online at aeropuertoolayaherrera.gov.co or by phone on +57 604 403 6780. Note that Olaya Herrera is a separate facility from José María Córdova in Rionegro — make sure your complaint references EOH/SKMD.

Sources and further reading

Olaya Herrera Airport — Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport runways — OurAirports
Medellín – Enrique Olaya Herrera (SKMD / EOH) — Volavi
Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (SKMD) — SKYbrary
Información de contacto — Atención al Ciudadano — Establecimiento Público Aeropuerto Olaya Herrera

Data updated 2026-10-19 — live ADS-B monitoring, rolling 30-day statistics (methodology). Article text revised 2026-05-30.

30 dB	Whisper
45 dB	Quiet residential
55 dB	Normal conversation
65 dB	Busy road
75 dB	Vacuum cleaner
85 dB	Heavy traffic
95 dB	Motorcycle nearby

Flight Noise

Layers

Live Tracking

Filters

Saved Pins

Flight Noise — User Manual

What is this?

Live Tracking

Heatmap

Flight Paths

Point Analysis

Noise Level Reference

Filters

Tips

Share this map

Pins shared with you

Medellín Flight Path Noise Map – Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH)

Aircraft noise around Medellín in October 2026

Does Medellín Airport have a curfew?

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

Flight patterns and runway use

When is it quietest?

How to check noise at your specific address

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

Other airports we track

🇦🇺 Adelaide, Australia

🇪🇸 Alicante, Spain

🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands

🇦🇺 Archerfield, Australia

🇬🇷 Athens, Greece

🇺🇸 Atlanta, USA

🇳🇿 Auckland, New Zealand

🇺🇸 Austin, USA

🇮🇩 Bali, Indonesia

🇦🇺 Ballina, Australia

🇺🇸 Baltimore, USA

🇮🇳 Bangalore, India

🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand

🇦🇺 Bankstown, Australia

🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain

🇫🇷 Basel, France

🇱🇧 Beirut, Lebanon

🇬🇧 Belfast City, UK

🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany

🇪🇸 Bilbao, Spain

🇨🇦 Billy Bishop, Canada

🇬🇧 Birmingham, UK

🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

🇺🇸 Boston, USA

🇦🇺 Brisbane, Australia

🇬🇧 Bristol, UK

🇧🇪 Brussels, Belgium

🇧🇪 Brussels Charleroi, Belgium

🇭🇺 Budapest, Hungary

🇦🇷 Buenos Aires, Argentina

🇦🇺 Canberra, Australia

🇿🇦 Cape Town, South Africa

🇨🇴 Cartagena, Colombia

🇺🇸 Charlotte, USA

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai, Thailand

🇺🇸 Chicago, USA

🇺🇸 Chicago O'Hare, USA

🇳🇿 Christchurch, New Zealand

🇩🇪 Cologne, Germany

🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark

🇵🇪 Cusco, Peru

🇻🇳 Da Nang, Vietnam

🇺🇸 Dallas, USA

🇮🇳 Delhi, India

🇺🇸 Denver, USA

🇺🇸 Detroit, USA

🇺🇸 DFW, USA

🇶🇦 Doha, Qatar

🇹🇭 Don Mueang, Thailand

🇦🇪 Dubai, UAE

🇮🇪 Dublin, Ireland

🇩🇪 Düsseldorf, Germany

🇬🇧 Edinburgh, UK

🇳🇱 Eindhoven, Netherlands

Adelaide, Australia

Alicante, Spain

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Archerfield, Australia

Athens, Greece

Atlanta, USA

Auckland, New Zealand

Austin, USA

Bali, Indonesia

Ballina, Australia

Baltimore, USA

Bangalore, India

Bangkok, Thailand

Bankstown, Australia

Barcelona, Spain

Basel, France

Beirut, Lebanon

Belfast City, UK

Berlin, Germany

Bilbao, Spain

Billy Bishop, Canada

Birmingham, UK

Bogotá, Colombia

Boston, USA

Brisbane, Australia

Bristol, UK

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels Charleroi, Belgium

Budapest, Hungary

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Canberra, Australia

Cape Town, South Africa

Cartagena, Colombia

Charlotte, USA

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chicago, USA

Chicago O'Hare, USA

Christchurch, New Zealand

Cologne, Germany

Copenhagen, Denmark

Cusco, Peru

Da Nang, Vietnam

Dallas, USA

Delhi, India

Denver, USA

Detroit, USA

DFW, USA

Doha, Qatar

Don Mueang, Thailand

Dubai, UAE

Dublin, Ireland

Düsseldorf, Germany

Edinburgh, UK

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Faro, Portugal

Florence, Italy

Fort Lauderdale, USA

Frankfurt, Germany

Funchal, Portugal

Gatwick, UK

Geneva, Switzerland

Glasgow, UK

Gold Coast, Australia

Hamburg, Germany

Hanoi, Vietnam

Heathrow, UK

Helsinki, Finland

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hobart, Australia

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Honolulu, USA

Houston, USA

Houston IAH, USA

Ibiza, Spain

Jandakot, Australia

John Wayne, USA

Kathmandu, Nepal

Keflavík, Iceland

Kraków, Poland

Las Vegas, USA