06-25-2017, 04:43 AM
Tom:
Leilanidude and PaulW do have a point. There are more people concentrated along the shoreline. I don't actually have a strong opinion as to whether more or less people would complain but somebody definitely would. Would it be possible for the helicopter tour industry to fly routes that greatly reduced the number of people that had helicopters fly over? Yes but that comes with costs, some of which would be very onerous for the companies involved. Does that matter? Well, yes if you want people to be able to make a living. Some people contend that the TMT should find someplace else to do business. I think they are full of crap. I am biased with regard to aviation since I am a pilot. I think that a good many of those complaining about helicopter noise are full of crap. Not all of them but human nature being what it is a good many of them are.
I have flown over my own place in Eden Roc several times. It is along a natural path to follow if you head straight south from Hilo along the highway then cut across towards the volcano. I hear helicopters overhead all the time at my place. Very rarely, they bother me. I have called the police to find out what was going on when helicopters were orbiting at treetop height around the subdivision (not that they gave me much satisfaction). Having a helicopter "targeting" your immediate area is really unnerving. Helicopters passing by overhead at 1500'? A totally different thing.
Leilanidude and PaulW do have a point. There are more people concentrated along the shoreline. I don't actually have a strong opinion as to whether more or less people would complain but somebody definitely would. Would it be possible for the helicopter tour industry to fly routes that greatly reduced the number of people that had helicopters fly over? Yes but that comes with costs, some of which would be very onerous for the companies involved. Does that matter? Well, yes if you want people to be able to make a living. Some people contend that the TMT should find someplace else to do business. I think they are full of crap. I am biased with regard to aviation since I am a pilot. I think that a good many of those complaining about helicopter noise are full of crap. Not all of them but human nature being what it is a good many of them are.
I have flown over my own place in Eden Roc several times. It is along a natural path to follow if you head straight south from Hilo along the highway then cut across towards the volcano. I hear helicopters overhead all the time at my place. Very rarely, they bother me. I have called the police to find out what was going on when helicopters were orbiting at treetop height around the subdivision (not that they gave me much satisfaction). Having a helicopter "targeting" your immediate area is really unnerving. Helicopters passing by overhead at 1500'? A totally different thing.