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quote:
Thank you Darl for the time and effort you put into your response, you seem very sincere and informed.
A few points though I think DanielP has made that should be further considered and not tabled.
This is Puna not the mainland with 49 different states and regulations. I hope this can be condensed without bringing the other 49 into the picture. This is one county here on island, that should be a bonus.
Regarding the volcano helo pad. Not my idea but I think it would be workable in some form or fashion. How about joining up with the Volcano Winery perhaps they would cut you a pad deal, and it could be win win.
I'm not there so I don't know. But I don't think this is a problem without answers for all.
mella l
I think the concept of a Heliport somewhere other than the airport has merit. This would not be something that we as a business would want to try and accomplish as it would be a very large and complicated project. I think that it would have to be perceived as a mutually beneficial solution for all concerned and would have to have the support of the community, county and state.
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quote:
Darl you have failed to answer my question if you are representing Blue Hawaiian in an official capacity? Otherwise this whole diatribe is a lesson in futility.The pilots are lower than 500' a lot of the time! People have been collecting video and pics for years ,that are evidence to the contrary of your claim that you guys stay at your proper altititude.Low flights happen all the time;and in fact I just took video of one of yours low over me, in the mist, just the other day.The community is tired of the noise,this makes altitude a mute point.Also,your responses are starting to sound like a spin doctor.Let us get to some meat.Thanks.Happy Holidays.
Citizens Against Overflights Assoc.
http://www.freewebs.com/caoahawaii/
“Official Capacity” – I am the Chief Pilot for the company. I am not the owner nor do I make policy for Blue Hawaiian. I am responsible for the actions of our pilots. I take this responsibility seriously and am here to see what we might be able to do with regards to improving our operations. Improvements specifically related to minimizing our operational impact on the community.
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quote:
well it looks like darl went poof*
and I was so optimistic.. thought we had a real person on the line.. but by all the evidence all darl amounts to is a cyber version of max headroom.. pap! well-l-l I suppose I should've know.. and not b-b-blown... my pessimistic cover. oh well
Edited by - dakine on 11/23/2007 07:07:14
I am not going to apologize for being busy. I will make an effort to get on the site more frequently and appreciate your patience. I am sincere in my interest to hear what everyone has to say and to hopefully come up with some new ideas that we can put in place.
PS; At the risk of dating myself; what the hell is“Max Headroom”
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I would like to get to the “meat and potatoes” as someone put it. There are several variables we can work with. The basics of course are routes and altitudes. A new one that has come up in our conversation is the management of flight profiles with regards to blade loading and the resulting changes in sound profiles. I think we can make some improvements there by trying to minimize power changes and maneuvering while over populated areas. I am also going to work with the pilots on the altitudes we use enroute to and from the eruption site. I would be interested in hearing if there is a noticeable change in the next few weeks.
As you know, the weather can limit our altitude, but I have noticed that on days this is not a factor, we tend not to take full advantage of the conditions. Let’s start there and see if we can take a step forward on the issue.
I have spoke with the pilots and have been flying in the area for the last several days. The pilots have told me and I have observed that they tend to be 500 to 1000 feet above the minimum altitudes when the weather is not a factor. I have instructed them to select routes that allow for the highest altitudes ( 4500 to 5000 ) and to climb to those altitudes as quickly as possible, preferably before crossing populated areas. The drawback with this approach would be a concentration of aircraft in the area where the weather permits the higher altitude. If the altitude is high enough the reduction in noise should offset the frequency of overflights. At best, this approach might result in significant reductions on clear days with the anticipation of some understanding on days when the weather dose not cooperate.
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Darl,
Thanks for sticking with this. I look forward to the success of reducing negative impacts on the neighborhood.
Dan
Edited by - DanielP on 11/28/2007 07:25:10
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quote:
quote:
Darl you have failed to answer my question if you are representing Blue Hawaiian in an official capacity? Otherwise this whole diatribe is a lesson in futility.The pilots are lower than 500' a lot of the time! People have been collecting video and pics for years ,that are evidence to the contrary of your claim that you guys stay at your proper altititude.Low flights happen all the time;and in fact I just took video of one of yours low over me, in the mist, just the other day.The community is tired of the noise,this makes altitude a mute point.Also,your responses are starting to sound like a spin doctor.Let us get to some meat.Thanks.Happy Holidays.
Citizens Against Overflights Assoc.
http://www.freewebs.com/caoahawaii/
“Official Capacity” – I am the Chief Pilot for the company. I am not the owner nor do I make policy for Blue Hawaiian. I am responsible for the actions of our pilots. I take this responsibility seriously and am here to see what we might be able to do with regards to improving our operations. Improvements specifically related to minimizing our operational impact on the community.
-------------------------------------reply- With all due respect Darl,you may be Chief Pilot,but what happens when you are not there babysitting?Pilots have notoriously been in disregard of the community,for years!.A lot of the people reading this site are not local.They can not really understand the uniqueness of this island,and the rare flora and fauna and culture,found no where else in the world!!We want to protect them from industry adverse effects.The community has heard all this before.Then the tour companies behave for a little while,then it is back to obnoxious.We need a permanent solution to this problem,and it isn't just noise!!!You have read the other thread,it is about the Hawaiian hawak,privacy,you are video taping tours and selling it.Any of us could end up on utube in unflattering poses.This issue needs addressment in an official capacity.Your participation is great,but it is not the answer.Your idea of flying over people just once a day is not a solution either.You folks need to be in that Nelson corridor.If the weather is bad for flying,then maybe you shouldn't be flying then? I continue to obtain video of Blue Hawaiian flying questionably.So,whatever you are doing is not working.No wonder the locals get fed up talking in here,this place can not be compared to anywhere else in the world.You can not take what you know to work in California and think it will be good here.Hawaii should change us,not the other way.The mainland is messed up,that is why people want to move out here,then they bring the exact same menatality, of capitalism and industry is everything,that resulted in them moving in the first place.What was the old saying in Rome? Better the barbarian you didn't know than the tax collector you did know.Well,if people come here and want it look like California,then what was the point in moving?This place stayed great because there wasn't a 7-11 until you hit Hilo.These small changes add up, sneak up on you.These overfligths fall in the same category.They are unwanted by the locals.I don't mean to offend,flame me if you will....but the I speak the truth.I have been here 27 years! I have seen and talked to many about this situation,and there needs to be a permanent solution.
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Darl, I appreciate your forthright manner and responses. I am sure although you dont set policy that as the chief pilot your thoughts carry some weight with your company.
I hope you continue the dialog so that better options can be found that work for the most amount of people!
Catherine Dumond
Blue Water Project Management
808 217-7578
http://bluewaterpm.125mb.com/index.html
"We help make building your dream home a reality"
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Wow,I can't beleive what is going on in this thread.There was already a thread about helicopters,and people didn't see that Darl started his own to avoid the serious ugly truth,well,that is telling.That made the other thread kinda fade off.That is npt right.Talk about hijacking to shed a flatterung light on yourself,and agenda! can't you people see what is happening.I agree with Thunderfoot.I see why locals get tired of talking in here.Okay flame me too!!!!!!!
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Darl,
Hopefully your efforts as chief pilot will show fruition and result in a substantial improvement in the situation. Also, hopefully you are aware that you will need to revisit the issue with the pilots, I'm sure, like all employees, they will back slide if not monitored.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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Darl, as a person who has gone nose to nose with the USATA on the mainland, I will both personally and professionally say that I commend you for what you are doing. Every successful solution has always started with someone willing to open a dialogue like this. Rational thinking and rational understanding wins out over rabid rhetoric every time.
Do you think that a sit down with calmer residents who can apply common sense to the discussion is a possibility? I'm not talking about a gang up on you, nor a summit to solve the problem, but just a get together for each side to start talking. No government, no groups, no causes, - just two opposing sides of an issue talking.
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