Have Bay Area flight patterns changed?
The flight patterns for commercial jets have not changed for many years.  The predominant traffic flow that occurs 80% of the year is the Normal Traffic Pattern.

Aircraft depart from Oakland in a Northwesterly direction and arrive from the Southeast.
Wind patterns reverse when a weather system passes through the Bay Area, thus creating a reverse traffic flow called the Southeast Plan. 

Below are illustrations of the predominant traffic patterns around the Bay Area.

Southeast Plan	Normal	Nighttime
Click on the photos above for a closer look.

Flights that depart or arrive at Oakland Airport are shown in green and red tracks respectively.  Blue tracks represent flights predominately from San Francisco Airport.

What limitations prohibit Oakland International Airport from establishing restrictions on aircraft operations?

On November 5,1990 the U.S. Congress enacted legislation known as the Airport Noise and Capacity Act.  As a result, Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 161 was established to limit the ability for airports to restrict access to an airport based on noise.  Congress enacted the legislation to balance the competing interests of the aviation industry and airport neighbors.  Noise restrictions in place prior to 1990 were “Granfathered” by the Act.  In addition, Interstate Commerce Laws prohibit anyone from “in any way or degree obstruct, delay, or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce”. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1951(a).

Why expand?

Over the last decade, the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK) has enjoyed robust increases in its passenger traffic, airline operations, parking lot activity, and rental car concessions.  This increase has challenged the ability of the Airport to meet the high level of service traditionally provided to the air passenger.

The Airport is moving forward with its Airport Development Plan (ADP), a group of projects to accommodate anticipated growth in passenger and cargo volume into next century.  Among the projects included in the ADP are the Terminal Expansion, the Cross Airport Roadway, 98th Avenue and Airport Drive Widening and the Remain Overnight Apron.

The currently planned Terminal Expansion improvements will enable the Airport to handle approximately 13.8 million passengers a year compared to the 9 million presently using the terminals.  

Will noise increase as result of Oakland Airport expansion?

The noise impact area for the Oakland Airport has decreased during the past decade and is expected to continue to decrease as a result of newer and quieter technology aircraft.  Development of the next generation of aircraft (Stage 4) is well underway and will bring quieter planes in the future.

Links:

Flight Standards, Western-Pacific Region.
www.awp.faa.gov

Federal Aviation Administration.
www.faa.gov  

Federal Aviation Administration, Airport Status Information, Southwest Region.
www.fly.faa.gov/flyFAA/index_sw.html
 
Airports Council International, North America.
www.aci-na.org

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