How do you curtail recreational flying in sensitive areas?
June 20, 2010 by MrAuthor
Filed under Recreational
I live next to a National Park and in a very scenic part of the country. As a result, it attracts a LOT of recreational aircraft which creates a LOT of noise. I’ve contacted the FAA, State, County, City, Airports, Flight Companies, individuals to try and help the situation. Honestly, I think there is absolutely nothing that can be done about this nuisance.
I consider discretionary noise to be analogous to second-hand smoke. Funny, how these aviation types don’t have a problem with aviation noise like smoke since most of them are "holding the proverbial cigarette", anyway.
You probably live under class G airspace so there aren’t many restrictions. The FAA or other government agencies aren’t likely to take steps to initiate noise abatement based off of a few complaints. I understand though. I live next to a road where semi’s run their Jake brakes all the time. It can be annoying but they have their rights to do that.
2 suggestions.
First talk to the local airport FBO’s since they do all of the aircraft rentals fuel sales and flight training in your area most pilots are in contact with them. If you can point to where you live on a sectional chart they can ask (but obviously not require) pilots to skirt your area or transition at a higher altitude. They might be able to do somethign informally to relieve your complaint. You might be off of a departure end of a runway for example and they might ask pilots to extend their climb before turning on course so that they can climb faster. They might be able to do something informally to relieve your complaint. I’ve flown out of several airports where we’ve been asked to do one thing or another because a homeowner near the airport didn’t like the noise.
Lastly think about how you are approaching the situation. If you are calling the pilots a nuisance and making negative analogous remarks here, I can only imagine how angry you are when you try and talk to people to assist you. You’re in a situation where you are asking a group of people to do you a favor that they don’t necessarily have to do. The nicer and more understanding you are the better chance that they’ll help you. On the other hand, make them mad and you won’t like the outcome. Most likely you live under class G in a sparsely populated area. That means all they have to do is stay 500 feet (either vertically or laterally or a combination) from any person vessel or structure.