05-03-2012, 10:15 AM
quote:Some points:
Originally posted by Bullwinkle
Helicopters were here before I was (they were on Maui as well).... seems unfair to shut them down if they are following FAA requirements - live and let live, tourists gotta see, pilots need to eat... grin
1) As tourism increases, especially the volcano tourism, flights increase. I doubt there were so many per day back when you arrived.
2) Population increases, areas develop, so more people are affected by flights than previously. Should flight routes not be adjusted to reflect demographic changes?
3) Do we really argue that residents cannot live peacefully on ag and residential land that is MILES from an actual airport, and should not buy into those areas if they want to avoid severe noise pollution? An airport zone is one thing, and subject to disclosure. I live in farm country way out of town, but because some tourists want to see a stream or waterfall, I should have to put up with the Apocalypse Now sound effects?
4) I agree about Green Harvest, should be banned, but not all people affected by tour helicopters are also harassed by Green Harvest. In my area the problem is tour helicopters and military flights, and sometimes the commercial flights fly really low although not all the time.
5) In the current housing market, people have very little mobility in terms of being able to sell and move. People are somewhat stuck in place. When the market was good, I could respond to a noise incursion increase by making a personal choice not to live there any more and make way for people who aren't bothered, but now I really can't do that.
6) Tourists would still spend money if the routes were away from residential areas. All they really care about is getting to that lava one way or another, and seeing at least one waterfalls if on the circle .... vistas will be dramatic no matter what.
Ed. Note I didn't say a word about Police, Fire, Rescue. I frequently get helo noise from that, but of course I would never complain about such important functions. However, I get enough of that type of necessary noise that the tour noise added to it is really too much. I would always have some aircraft noise, but I would like to ask for LESS, not zero.