09-11-2017, 06:40 AM
Here’s what http://hicop.org/ has proposed;
HAWAII ISLAND OFFSHORE HELICOPTER ROUTE ( HIOHR )
SUMMARY: This action requires helicopter pilots to use the Hawaii Island Offshore Helicopter Route to transit offshore and not over Hawaii Island. The purpose of this rule is to protect and enhance public welfare by requiring helicopter traffic to fly one mile offshore at a MSL of 2500', thereby eliminating overflights and attendant noise disturbance over nearby homes and communities.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In response to continuing concerns from a large number of local residents and their Hawaii Island elected office holders, who are disturbed by the level of noise from helicopters operating over Hawaii Island, this action requires helicopter pilots to fly the HIOHR. This action is part of an on-going process to enhance public health and welfare by eliminating helicopter noise for residents, visitors, tourists and businesses of Hawaii Island. The noise from the helicopters will be over water.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1. The Hawaii Island Copter Operators ( HICO ) currently overfly Hawaii Island including areas that are designated "Recommended Avoidance Areas", "Noise Abatement Areas", routes over areas specifically designated "Avoid routes over" and noise sensitive areas such as residential, educational, health and religious structures and sites, and parks, recreational areas ( including areas with wilderness designation and characters ) wildlife refuges and cultural and historic sites where a quiet setting is a generally recognized feature or attribute.
HICO knows exactly and specifically the incessant near constant tour helicopter noise nuisance pollution impact they are perpetuating on Hawaii Island which negatively impacts the quality of life, the health, the use and enjoyment of property and the value of property of the peoples of Hawaii Island, residents, visitors, tourists and businesses alike. HICO has flagrantly continued knowingly imposing this noise impact, that also is not in compliance with their Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 34, TOUR AIRCRAFT OPERATORS PERMIT.
2. HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL ( HAI ) Fly Neighborly Program:
https://www.rotor.org/portals/1/operatio...mphlet.pdf
a. We all want peace and quiet at home and in our neighborhoods,
b. Avoid residential areas,
c. Identify noise sensitive areas and adjust routes to avoid them,
d. Avoid late night/early morning flights,
e. Adhere to published noise abatement procedueres,
f. Respond to a citizen complaint,
g. While only a small percentage may voice their concern, a complaint often reflects similar concern of a larger number of people in the surrounding community,
h. HAI Fly Neighborly Program has many more valid points included but not mentioned here and will be attached to this document.
3. AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION ( AOPA ) Guide to Noise:
https://www.aopa.org/-/media/files/aopa/...nd-use.pdf.
a. Be aware of noise-sensitive areas, especially residential communities,
b. Follow any voluntary noise abatement procedures,
c. There are steps we can take to be good neighbors,
d. Creating voluntary noise abatement procedures starts with a decision to take action,
e. AOPA's Guide has many more valid points included but not mentioned here and will be attached to this document.
4. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION VISUAL FLIGHT RULES ( VFR ) FLIGHT NEAR NOISE SENSITIVE AREAS, ADVISORY CIRCULAR No. 91-36C/91-36D:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies.../.../23156
a. Purpose, This Advisory Circular ( AC ) encourages pilots making VFR flights near noise-sensitive areas to fly on flight paths that will reduce aircraft noise in such areas,
b. Excessive aircraft noise can result in annoyance, inconvenience or interference with the uses and enjoyment of property and can adversely affect wildlife,
c. It is particularly undesirable in areas where it interferes with normal activities associated with the areas use, including residential, educational, health and religious structures and sites and parks, recreational areas, ( including areas with wilderness characteristics ), where a quiet setting is a generally recognized feature or attribute,
d. This FAA AC has many more valid points included but not mentioned here and will be attached to this document.
5. HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AIRPORTS DIVISION ( HDOT-AD ), HAWAII AIRPORTS AND FLYING SAFETY GUIDE:
https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1033/ML103340574.pdf
a. Avoid noise sensitive areas and fly using routes around populated areas,
b. Aircraft noise is an increasingly sensitive issue, particularly in the Hawaiian Islands,
c. Specific noise abatement procedures have been developed for Hilo ( ITO ) airport and are included with the listing for the airport,
d. Pilots should avoid overflying populated areas,
e. Sensitivity to noise extends beyond residential and other populated areas,
f. Pilots should also use caution to minimize noise impact on wilderness areas,
g. Map, Island of Hawaii, Noise Abatement Areas, Recommended Avoidance Areas,
h. Avoid routes over Hawaiian Acres, Puna and Kurtistown,
i. HAR Chapter 34, TOUR AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS AT PUBLIC AIRPORTS, 19-34-4 APPLICATION FOR TOUR AIRCRAFT OPERATORS PERMIT, requires supporting documents to include but not limited to; paragraph b. Hawaii Aeronautical Chart marked to indicate proposed routes etc., c. Island-scale U.S. Geological Survey maps also marked to indicate routes etc.,d. "Fly Neighborly Program" (1) Noise abatement procedures etc., (2) Procedures to be used in responding to complaints generated etc.,
j. This HDOT- AD Guide has many more valid points included but not mentioned here and will be attached to this document.
COMMENTS:
1. 14 CFR Part 93 for Long Island mandated an offshore route 1 mile offshore and a minimum altitude of 2500' MSL. Since Long Island is an urban area with 7.5 million inhabitants the ambient noise level there may be substantially higher that the ambient noise level on rural, less than 200,000. inhabitants, super quiet Hawaii Island. For that reason the 1 mile 2500' MSL may not be adequate for Hawaii Island and the distance offshore may need to be more than 1 mile and/or the altitude greater than 2500' MSL.
2. All of Hawaii Island meets the noise sensitive criteria. Total Hawaii Island is noise sensitive.
3. The only diversions from the HIOHR are to and from ITO and KOA. If another overland diversion is requested, there must be a public hearing in the area of impact, and a diversion can only be added if it does not cause noise and/or physical impact.
4. If HICO chooses to include waterfall tours they can provide tour van service from ITO to Rainbow Falls and/or Akaka Falls. They also have the option of locating a waterfall visible from the HIOHR.
5. All tour helicopter operations can operate on the offshore route and continue even better scenic tours enhanced by flying the most beautiful coast in the world, flying in much better weather and truly flying neighborly and with ALOHA thereby eliminating all complaints and any threat to their continuing operations
HAWAII ISLAND OFFSHORE HELICOPTER ROUTE ( HIOHR )
SUMMARY: This action requires helicopter pilots to use the Hawaii Island Offshore Helicopter Route to transit offshore and not over Hawaii Island. The purpose of this rule is to protect and enhance public welfare by requiring helicopter traffic to fly one mile offshore at a MSL of 2500', thereby eliminating overflights and attendant noise disturbance over nearby homes and communities.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In response to continuing concerns from a large number of local residents and their Hawaii Island elected office holders, who are disturbed by the level of noise from helicopters operating over Hawaii Island, this action requires helicopter pilots to fly the HIOHR. This action is part of an on-going process to enhance public health and welfare by eliminating helicopter noise for residents, visitors, tourists and businesses of Hawaii Island. The noise from the helicopters will be over water.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1. The Hawaii Island Copter Operators ( HICO ) currently overfly Hawaii Island including areas that are designated "Recommended Avoidance Areas", "Noise Abatement Areas", routes over areas specifically designated "Avoid routes over" and noise sensitive areas such as residential, educational, health and religious structures and sites, and parks, recreational areas ( including areas with wilderness designation and characters ) wildlife refuges and cultural and historic sites where a quiet setting is a generally recognized feature or attribute.
HICO knows exactly and specifically the incessant near constant tour helicopter noise nuisance pollution impact they are perpetuating on Hawaii Island which negatively impacts the quality of life, the health, the use and enjoyment of property and the value of property of the peoples of Hawaii Island, residents, visitors, tourists and businesses alike. HICO has flagrantly continued knowingly imposing this noise impact, that also is not in compliance with their Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 34, TOUR AIRCRAFT OPERATORS PERMIT.
2. HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL ( HAI ) Fly Neighborly Program:
https://www.rotor.org/portals/1/operatio...mphlet.pdf
a. We all want peace and quiet at home and in our neighborhoods,
b. Avoid residential areas,
c. Identify noise sensitive areas and adjust routes to avoid them,
d. Avoid late night/early morning flights,
e. Adhere to published noise abatement procedueres,
f. Respond to a citizen complaint,
g. While only a small percentage may voice their concern, a complaint often reflects similar concern of a larger number of people in the surrounding community,
h. HAI Fly Neighborly Program has many more valid points included but not mentioned here and will be attached to this document.
3. AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION ( AOPA ) Guide to Noise:
https://www.aopa.org/-/media/files/aopa/...nd-use.pdf.
a. Be aware of noise-sensitive areas, especially residential communities,
b. Follow any voluntary noise abatement procedures,
c. There are steps we can take to be good neighbors,
d. Creating voluntary noise abatement procedures starts with a decision to take action,
e. AOPA's Guide has many more valid points included but not mentioned here and will be attached to this document.
4. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION VISUAL FLIGHT RULES ( VFR ) FLIGHT NEAR NOISE SENSITIVE AREAS, ADVISORY CIRCULAR No. 91-36C/91-36D:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies.../.../23156
a. Purpose, This Advisory Circular ( AC ) encourages pilots making VFR flights near noise-sensitive areas to fly on flight paths that will reduce aircraft noise in such areas,
b. Excessive aircraft noise can result in annoyance, inconvenience or interference with the uses and enjoyment of property and can adversely affect wildlife,
c. It is particularly undesirable in areas where it interferes with normal activities associated with the areas use, including residential, educational, health and religious structures and sites and parks, recreational areas, ( including areas with wilderness characteristics ), where a quiet setting is a generally recognized feature or attribute,
d. This FAA AC has many more valid points included but not mentioned here and will be attached to this document.
5. HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AIRPORTS DIVISION ( HDOT-AD ), HAWAII AIRPORTS AND FLYING SAFETY GUIDE:
https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1033/ML103340574.pdf
a. Avoid noise sensitive areas and fly using routes around populated areas,
b. Aircraft noise is an increasingly sensitive issue, particularly in the Hawaiian Islands,
c. Specific noise abatement procedures have been developed for Hilo ( ITO ) airport and are included with the listing for the airport,
d. Pilots should avoid overflying populated areas,
e. Sensitivity to noise extends beyond residential and other populated areas,
f. Pilots should also use caution to minimize noise impact on wilderness areas,
g. Map, Island of Hawaii, Noise Abatement Areas, Recommended Avoidance Areas,
h. Avoid routes over Hawaiian Acres, Puna and Kurtistown,
i. HAR Chapter 34, TOUR AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS AT PUBLIC AIRPORTS, 19-34-4 APPLICATION FOR TOUR AIRCRAFT OPERATORS PERMIT, requires supporting documents to include but not limited to; paragraph b. Hawaii Aeronautical Chart marked to indicate proposed routes etc., c. Island-scale U.S. Geological Survey maps also marked to indicate routes etc.,d. "Fly Neighborly Program" (1) Noise abatement procedures etc., (2) Procedures to be used in responding to complaints generated etc.,
j. This HDOT- AD Guide has many more valid points included but not mentioned here and will be attached to this document.
COMMENTS:
1. 14 CFR Part 93 for Long Island mandated an offshore route 1 mile offshore and a minimum altitude of 2500' MSL. Since Long Island is an urban area with 7.5 million inhabitants the ambient noise level there may be substantially higher that the ambient noise level on rural, less than 200,000. inhabitants, super quiet Hawaii Island. For that reason the 1 mile 2500' MSL may not be adequate for Hawaii Island and the distance offshore may need to be more than 1 mile and/or the altitude greater than 2500' MSL.
2. All of Hawaii Island meets the noise sensitive criteria. Total Hawaii Island is noise sensitive.
3. The only diversions from the HIOHR are to and from ITO and KOA. If another overland diversion is requested, there must be a public hearing in the area of impact, and a diversion can only be added if it does not cause noise and/or physical impact.
4. If HICO chooses to include waterfall tours they can provide tour van service from ITO to Rainbow Falls and/or Akaka Falls. They also have the option of locating a waterfall visible from the HIOHR.
5. All tour helicopter operations can operate on the offshore route and continue even better scenic tours enhanced by flying the most beautiful coast in the world, flying in much better weather and truly flying neighborly and with ALOHA thereby eliminating all complaints and any threat to their continuing operations