Aircraft noise in Serra Mesa (92108, 92123)
Serra Mesa experiences approximately 227 aircraft overflights per day, primarily military and general-aviation aircraft, passing below 3,000 ft. San Diego International Airport traffic adds another 86 overflights a day. Estimated peak ground noise reaches 69–75 dB — enough to interrupt conversation outdoors. It ranks #6 of 30 San Diego neighborhoods for aircraft noise exposure. (Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 90 days to 2026-09-25.)
Data: 90 days to 2026-09-25 · all tracked aircraft over Serra Mesa · updated monthly
Where the noise comes from
Serra Mesa hears traffic from 2 distinct sources:
Military & general aviation (Montgomery-Gibbs, Miramar, North Island)
141 overflights/day (62%) · typically 1,000 ft
Around 141 low overflights a day come from military and general-aviation traffic that isn't using San Diego International — mainly Montgomery-Gibbs Executive, MCAS Miramar, NAS North Island and Gillespie Field. Light-aircraft counts are tracked overflights only — many training and private aircraft carry no ADS-B transponder, so true numbers are higher.
San Diego International Airport
live map →86 overflights/day (38%) · typically 6,800 ft
Traffic from San Diego International Airport is arrivals, mostly above 5,000 ft.
Light-aircraft counts are tracked overflights only — many training and private aircraft carry no ADS-B transponder, so true numbers are higher.
How nearby neighborhoods compare
| Neighborhood | Overflights / day | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Kearny Mesa | 270 | #5 |
| Serra Mesa | 227 | #6 |
| Clairemont Mesa East | 171 | #10 |
| Grantville | 157 | #13 |
| Linda Vista | 57 | #22 |
Common questions
- Is Serra Mesa under a flight path?
- Yes — Serra Mesa is directly under the area's flight paths, with around 227 overflights on a typical day, mostly arrivals.
- Which airport's aircraft fly over Serra Mesa?
- More than one source: other low-flying aircraft (~141/day), San Diego International Airport (~86/day). The breakdown above shows each source's pattern.
- What time do planes start over Serra Mesa?
- The first movements typically pass over Serra Mesa around 1:23am, building through the morning peak.
- Is it quieter in Serra Mesa on weekends?
- Not much — weekday and weekend traffic over Serra Mesa is similar (232 vs 216 overflights a day).
Checking a specific address?
This page shows neighborhood-wide averages. An address report gives you the exact overflight count, altitudes, hourly pattern and noise estimate for one property. Leave your email and we'll let you know when reports are ready for Serra Mesa.
