Oakland is within 20 miles of 4 airports with control towers: Oakland San Francisco Bay, Hayward Executive, San Francisco International and Buchanan Field. Most planes you see over Oakland are taking off from or landing at one of them. Airports take off and land into the wind, so when the wind changes, the paths over Oakland change too.
Right now over Oakland
Live aircraft within about 8 miles of Oakland, updated every 30 seconds.
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Which way the airports are landing right now
Planes take off and land into the wind. Here is the wind at each airport right now, and what it means for the planes over Oakland.
Tap the map to see how often planes pass over that spot. Zoom in with + and –, or pinch with two fingers. 📍 shows where you are. ⤢ goes back to the full view.
Arriving planes don’t fly straight to the runway. Controllers line them up like cars merging onto a highway, often 10 to 20 miles or more from the airport, and fly them along the side of the airport before turning them toward the runway. That is why a town several miles from an airport can sit right under the line of arriving planes, and why it changes when the airport switches direction.
Flight paths over Oakland: what the recorded flights show
We’ve recorded months of flights below 10,000 feet over this area. Here’s what they show for Oakland, and which way the wind sets the runways at each nearby airport. These are averages: any single day can be quieter or busier.
- Over the center of Oakland, an aircraft is overhead about 4 minutes a day on average (very roughly 25 flights).
- The busiest flight path near Oakland is about 1.2 miles south-southeast of the center of Oakland, where an aircraft is overhead about 8 minutes a day (very roughly 45 flights), usually around 2,600 ft above the main airport.
- There: 85% low, under 4,000 ft · 15% helicopters.
- Most of them are heading southwest.
- It’s busiest on days the wind blows from the southeast (about 42 minutes a day).
Which way the wind sets the runways
- Oakland San Francisco Bay (OAK), 6.4 miles south-southeast: over the past year, whenever there was a breeze, it favored landing toward the northwest (runways 28L, 28R and 30) 41% of the time and toward the south (runway 15) 36%. When OAK lands toward the south, arriving planes line up over or near Oakland on their way in.
- Hayward Executive (HWD), 12.9 miles southeast: over the past year, whenever there was a breeze, it favored landing toward the northwest (runways 28L and 28R) 70% of the time and toward the southeast (runways 10L and 10R) 30%.
- San Francisco International (SFO), 14.0 miles south-southwest: over the past year, whenever there was a breeze, it favored landing toward the northwest (runways 28L and 28R) 42% of the time and toward the southwest (runways 19L and 19R) 40%. When SFO lands toward the southwest, arriving planes line up over or near Oakland on their way in.
Estimated from the past year’s hourly winds (Nov 2025 to Oct 2026), counting the hours with at least a light breeze. The wind leads, but controllers also weigh noise rules, traffic and runway work, so the runway in use doesn’t always match.
Is your street under a flight path? Check your exact address →
Who controls the sky over Oakland
These air traffic control facilities keep the planes over Oakland safely apart. Each one has a free thank-you wall.
- OAKTowerOakland International Tower (OAK)Takeoffs and landings at Oakland San Francisco BayThank them →
- HWDTowerHayward Executive Tower (HWD)Takeoffs and landings at Hayward ExecutiveThank them →
- SFOTowerSan Francisco Tower (SFO)Takeoffs and landings at San Francisco InternationalThank them →
- CCRTowerConcord Tower (CCR)Takeoffs and landings at Buchanan FieldThank them →
- NCTApproach controlNorthern California TRACON (NCT)Guides planes climbing out of and coming down into the airports around OaklandThank them →
- ZOAEn route centerOakland ARTCC (ZOA)Handles flights cruising high over OaklandThank them →
Why the flight paths over Oakland change
The wind
Airports use the runway that points most into the wind. When the wind swings around, arrivals and departures flip to the other end of the runway, and planes can start crossing a different part of Oakland. That often happens when a front or a line of storms moves through.
Storms
Controllers steer planes around thunderstorms, so on stormy afternoons flights can show up where you normally never see them, sometimes lower and closer together than usual.
Busy times
At busy times, controllers space arrivals a few miles apart and may extend the line of planes farther out, which can stretch the arrival path over more neighborhoods.
Training and small planes
Smaller airports nearby are home to flight schools. Student pilots practice takeoffs, landings and approaches, so you may see the same small plane circle back again and again.
Questions about aircraft noise in Oakland
Aircraft noise is handled by the airport, not by air traffic control. Each airport (usually run by a city, county or airport authority) has its own noise office and wants to hear about specific flights, so note the date and time. The airports near Oakland are:
- Oakland San Francisco Bay (OAK)
- Hayward Executive (HWD)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Buchanan Field (CCR)
To find the right noise office, search the airport’s name with the word “noise,” or use the FAA’s airport locator. If the airport can’t help, the FAA’s noise ombudsman can. FAA: Noise complaints and inquiries → · Find your airport’s noise office, and what helps at home →
Nearby towns
- Alameda, CA
- Berkeley, CA
- San Leandro, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Richmond, CA
- Daly City, CA
- Hayward, CA
- San Mateo, CA
Every plane over Oakland is talking to a controller. Say thanks to the people who keep them safely apart.
Common questions
How many planes fly over Oakland a day?
Based on months of recorded flights below 10,000 feet, an aircraft is over the center of Oakland about 4 minutes a day on average (very roughly 25 flights). The busiest nearby path, about 1.2 miles south-southeast of the center, has an aircraft overhead about 8 minutes a day (very roughly 45 flights).
Which way does OAK usually land?
Over the past year, whenever there was a breeze, the wind favored Oakland San Francisco Bay landing toward the northwest (runways 28L, 28R and 30) 41% of the time and toward the south (runway 15) 36%. Planes take off and land into the wind, so the direction flips when the wind does.
Why are planes flying so low over Oakland?
Planes low over Oakland are usually landing at or taking off from one of the nearby airports, such as Oakland San Francisco Bay (OAK), 6 miles away. Air traffic controllers keep every one of them safely separated from the others.
Why are there more planes over Oakland some days?
Mostly because of the wind. Airports take off and land into the wind, so a wind shift can send arrivals or departures over different neighborhoods. Storms and busy travel days can also move or stretch the usual paths.
Which airport are the planes over Oakland going to?
The closest airports with control towers are Oakland San Francisco Bay (OAK), Hayward Executive (HWD), San Francisco International (SFO), Buchanan Field (CCR). Low planes are usually using one of these; higher jets are often passing over on the way somewhere else.
Who do I contact about airplane noise in Oakland?
The noise office of the airport the plane was using, not the control tower. Have the date and time ready. If the airport can't help, the FAA's noise ombudsman takes inquiries through faa.gov/noise.