Helicopter Offshore Petition

[PaulW]

There are plenty of things I can't afford either, but I'm not narrow-minded enough to want them shut down out of spite for those more fortunate than me. I like seeing them pay taxes and support jobs.

[PaulW]

I was reading more of the comments, the word "sacred" seems to be very popular. As for noise, I wonder how many of these people use leaf blowers?

One person gives his address as 37th St in Orchidland (not far from the store) and claims helicopters fly over every 10 minutes. Can anyone from near there confirm?

[TomK]

MarkP - I understand your point, it's a good one, but I would still like to see this regulation about how far tour helicopters can fly offshore and also how much extra it would cost if they did. The other issue I have a real problem with is the sound. There is no physical way the noise from a helicopter flying at 1500 feet a mile offshore is going to be louder compared to it flying overhead at the same altitude. It's basic physics.

Incidentally, on some days (not all), the helicopter flights directly over Kaloli Point are almost constant. Perhaps I tend to notice this more as I'm often trying to sleep during the day and it's hard to do on those days. I'm not saying they need to consider people sleeping during the day; it's just that it becomes very noticeable when you're hoping for a bit of peace and quiet, so it sticks in your mind.

[MarkP]

Helicopters overhead all day today in Eden Roc sometimes 2 at a time. Probably a dozen at least. Maybe I am just used to them.

[TomK]

In a related thread here a few years ago, I asked an actual local helicopter pilot about the possibility of using the current routes but flying a thousand feet higher. It would make a big difference to the noise, and they also agreed with me it would increase safety in case of engine failure, giving the pilot more time to recover or autorotate to a safe landing.

I'll try and find a link to the thread tomorrow if you want.

What I don't know is how much extra fuel that would need, especially compared to flying farther offshore, so without those numbers it's hard to use factual information. If we could be given that info by the tour companies, it would help a lot and bring much more clarity to the discussion. Maybe it's out there somewhere but I have never seen it.

[TomK]

HOTPE wrote:

"[...] suggests helicopters provide cool comfortable breezes during the hot summer months to residents as they pass over homes, with their large rapidly whirring blades."

Sorry, a bit off-topic, but...

Ever wonder why you don't see helicopters producing chemtrails? If you want to control people's minds by spraying stuff on them, then why not use helicopters and use their downdraft to increase efficiency instead of aircraft flying at 35,000 feet? It's a bit of a quandary.

[randomq]

I can make helicopters appear at will. All I have to do is take an outdoor shower or sunbathe in my back yard, and one inevitably shows up!

[leilanidude]

There is no physical way the noise from a helicopter flying at 1500 feet a mile offshore is going to be louder compared to it flying overhead at the same altitude. It's basic physics.
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That is NOT what I said.

[kalakoa]

On the map, shortest path between lava flow and ITO is over the forest reserves (Waiakea, Ola'a), not the "private, agricultural" subdivisions below Highway 11.

I'm sure someone can explain why the helicopters "have to" fly over the subdivisions instead of unpopulated forest reserve lands.

There's also the "faux residential" angle: if the subdivisions were truly being used for "agricultural" purposes, most "farming" activities (eg, crops) would be somewhat less impacted by noise. If these subdivisions were truly "residential", they might actually have a stronger claim against the helicopters.

What a beautiful mess we've created. Or had thrust upon us. Or maybe "been sold out to" is more accurate.

[geochem]

or "bought in" to....

"cheapest land in Hawaii" courtesy of Opra, comes with some downsides...

buyers' remorse, anyone?

and, by the way, I hear helicopters, lawnmowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers (and coqui) pretty much every day. It's mind over matter: if you don't mind, it don't matter...