Meeting and Petition for Pesky Helicopters

[Thunderfoot]

Things people can do to help stop the airspace free-for-all :

1.) post your complaints here at this site.
2.) email caoahawaii@yahoo.com
3.)video tape incidents,then send copies to FAA within two days to address given previously,and another one to the CAOA at
P.O. Box 840,Volcano,Hawaii,96785 Also,if you send a notarized statement ,that would add weight;but it isn't required.
4.)get our unwanted overflight complaint list;which is a list of addresses you can write to.If everyone power mails,it will have an effect.
5.) sign a petition.The CAOA can email you one.Also,Miranda's feed store has a stack in Hilo. The health food store in Keaau has a stack too. Also,we have an internet petition for people to email all over the country.We prefer the old fashion paper one with your ink on it.legally they are stronger,but for those who are not in Hilo,please get the internet petition signed.It is
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/savethequiethawaii
6.) volunteer
7.) donate,of course
8.) spread the word
9.) come to a meeting
10.) keep smiling even when annnoyed




Edited by - thunderfoot on 10/11/2007 07:48:57

[chip]

"Okay"
I have signed petition and sent an email to help stop these over flights.
As this peace and quiet is not much to ask
in our housing corridor over puna.
Chip and jackie, Puna







Edited by - chip on 10/11/2007 09:27:56

[Nightowl]

I signed the petition too !

so much....and so little time

[Thunderfoot]

Thanks guys,spread the word.

[seekir]

I'm new on the forum and haven't read every post on this thread, but I hope to contribute useful information to the topic. Hopefully the post isn't too long. As a former fixed-wing tour pilot I have some experience with the protocols for volcano air tours. Today, (10/11/07) I had a Blue Hawaiian "Eco"-Star Helicopter, probably from Kona, fly almost directly overhead proceeding south-southeast to the vent while I was working on the construction of my little house out on the Pu'u O'o end of Uluhemalu. The helicopter was under 500' Above the ground in my estimation, and despite the attentuated noise footprint of the Eco-Star model, I was disappointed to see and hear the helicopter flying this low on such a great day (he could have easily climbed considerably higher in the clear weather, but apparently chose to descend to facilitate his approach to the vent or thrill the passengers). Though the Eco Stars Blue Hawaiian operates are somewhat quieter than the older A-Star, Helicopters by their nature are just plain obnoxious machines, and airborne noise travels freely and far.

The FAA rules for non-commercial aircraft altitudes are as follows. Note section C for uncongested areas, and section D for Helicopters:
____________________
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/REGULATORY_AND...enDocument

Sec. 91.119

Minimum safe altitudes: General.

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:
(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
© Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
(d) Helicopters. Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or © of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.
_____________________
Helicopter tours generally operate under stricter FAA Part 135 rules, and there are (state?) rules specific to tour operations in the islands, the precise content of which eludes my fading memory at the moment. There are also informal guidelines which most tour pilots abide by to promote community harmony: Out bound from Hilo to the vent above the highway toward Ainaloa before turning toward Pu'u O'o, or direct to the "Nelson Corridor" (behind Mountain View elementary) in clear weather, then south to the vent. When clouds are lower but still permit some viewing of the flows, the route is offshore, sometimes around Cape Kumukahi/Kapoho to the south side of the rift zone and flow past Kalapana, or offshore to open areas between the Cape and Hilo then more westerly across land to Pu'u O'o. Often the vent itself is inaccessible in these conditions. Tours originating in Kona in clear weather can come direct through the saddle and over the Volcano area direct to the vent. In more normal cloudy conditions they generally come via Waimea then offshore Hamakua to Hilo, followed by the normal Hilo-vent routes mentioned above.

Pilots are, however, in "command" of their own flights and basically unsupervised (though the videos are recording their flight and course and can sometimes be evidence of the pilot's chosen route when management gets noise complaints). Some pilots are very concious of the community concerns, but the fastest route to the activity is of course, direct. That is to say directly over residential areas not receptive to the intrusion and noise. The temptation to fly direct is always there when time is the main consideration.

[Thunderfoot]

Thanks for your input,it is appreciated;and it is worth it to take the time to read the entire thread.This is about more than altitutde and safety.There are all kinds of important angles involved.

[Thunderfoot]

quote:

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Things people can do to help stop the airspace free-for-all :

1.) post your complaints here at this site.
2.) email caoahawaii@yahoo.com
3.)video tape incidents,then send copies to FAA within two days to address given previously,and another one to the CAOA at
P.O. Box 840,Volcano,Hawaii,96785 Also,if you send a notarized statement ,that would add weight;but it isn't required.
4.)get our unwanted overflight complaint list;which is a list of addresses you can write to.If everyone power mails,it will have an effect.
5.) sign a petition.The CAOA can email you one.Also,Miranda's feed store has a stack in Hilo. The health food store in Keaau has a stack too. Also,we have an internet petition for people to email all over the country.We prefer the old fashion paper one with your ink on it.legally they are stronger,but for those who are not in Hilo,please get the internet petition signed.It is
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/savethequiethawaii
6.) volunteer
7.) donate,of course
8.) spread the word
9.) come to a meeting
10.) keep smiling even when annnoyed




Edited by - thunderfoot on 10/11/2007 07:48:57

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[LavaOcean]

Ive got a solution go by boat, wait other people dont like that either, how about we just drive cars, vans and buses around the Volcaoe park, that should be enough for most people who want to experience LAVA.

I too dont like the sound

Shane Turpin
Lava Ocean Adventures

[Dancingsong]

I'm on the mainland right now, so can't attend tomorrow's meeting .... but am spreading the word.
I'll check in when I get back to the Big Island, and hope to be of assistance.
Have a great meeting !!! ... and Keep Up the Good Work !!!

[Thunderfoot]

Thanks again everyone.We have already gotten over 130 signatures,and all before our first meeting.This is an important issue.
Also,research for this issue is not finished and there is still much to discuss.

Just a remeinder that the MEETING is TODAY at 2p.m. at Mt.View Gym.