An operation is defined as either one takeoff or one landing. Thus, if an aircraft takes off and lands at the airport, that counts as two operations.

Annual operations at the airport have declined steadily and significantly since 1985, reflecting a trend in "general aviation" across the country. ("General aviation" refers to nonscheduled flights.) This trend is due largely to the decrease in the number of pilots who fly small, single-engine aircraft as a hobby. The decrease is in part a result of the significant increase in costs of flying as a hobby.

"Itinerant" aircraft are those based at other airports, including nearby airports (Livermore, San Carlos, Oakland, etc.). "Local" aircraft are those based at the Hayward Airport. Itinerant aircraft cause the most noise annoyance as they are more likely to fly directly over San Lorenzo homes instead of turning away before reaching San Lorenzo Village, as is preferred by airport authorities.