How to lodge Helicopter complaints...

[rainshadow]

Hey all, I thought I'd share my approach to logging low flying choppers. Obviously it's not as successful as I'd like it to be. But anyway... my approach is to be respectful of the FAA/other people (they are after all, just doing their jobs in a very big and messy institution) and base my requests/complaints on as much info (facts) as I can get.

To register a complaint when Air Tour choppers buzz your area:

- Get out your camera with the 300mm zoom
- Set ISO to ~2500, shutter speed to ~2500, and Aperture to ~6.3 or so (adjust all of these as you need)
- Snap pictures using full zoom, holding the camera as steady as you can while you do
- Review the shot(s) on your camera, zooming in on the viewfinder to see if you can ID the tail numbers
- If you can, note the tail numbers, time, air tour company, and basic address or lat/long of occurrence. Also note the estimated altitude.
- Download the shot, crop it, save it of, as a somewhat smaller version, to be email-friendly
- Forward the helicopter details and the attached photograph to the below contact list (include all info and pictures)
- Then call the State DOT Noise Compliant line to register a complaint

CONTACT INFORMATION:

David Ryon: David.S.Ryon@faa.gov
Charles Cantu: Charles.Cantu@faa.gov
Ian Gregor: Ian.Gregor@faa.gov
William J. McGowan: William.J.McGowan-Jr@faa.gov
Darett I. Kanayama: Darett.I.Kanayama@faa.gov
HI County Mayor: cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us
FAA Hilo: 808-935-4658
State of Hawai'i DoT Noise complaints: 1-888-697-781

Also, remember that the current set of laws governing air tour operators (over HPP, for example) states a minimum altitude of 1500' Above Ground Level (AGL), and a no-fly area if unable to maintain that altitude. The Hawai'i Air Tour Common Procedures Manual (10mb PDF) is located here, last time I looked:

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/fiel...n_proc.pdf

If you submit a complaint for a copter that is flying legal, the authorities will not take us seriously, so please try to stick to aircraft that you sincerely believe are violating laws (though believe me... I understand how you feel...).

And if you want to change these laws, contact local, State, and Federal people, in addition to Representatives and Senators. You can use the letter in the below petition as a basic format, modifying it to say what you want:

http://www.change.org/petitions/modify-h...opter-laws

I sincerely hope this helps, if only a little.

Other contact info:
-------------------
Hawai'i State Legislature - Senate:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/le...?chamber=S

Hawai'i State Legislature - House:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/house.aspx

Senators of the 112th Congress:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_in...m?State=HI

Governor Abercrombie:
http://hawaii.gov/gov/contact/contact-gov

Cannabis Eradication Program hotline:
(808) 864-2036


-- rainshadow