Helicopter Noise Compromise

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Safari Helicopters has started a trial noise reduction period by not flying on Sundays. They own two helicopters. Meanwhile Sen. Ruderman would like a study by the Hawaii Dept of Health to find out whether copter noise affects our health. We certainly haven’t discussed the topic on Punaweb repeatedly, for years for our health, have we?

After years of complaints about helicopters buzzing over the Big Island, one tour company is now offering a compromise. Safari Helicopters sent a letter to elected officials and community leaders announcing that it would halt Sunday flights on Hawaii Island during a trial period that started on Feb. 17.

"We made the decision that we wanted to show the community we're willing to try something to see if it will help placate some of the noise complaints," said owner Preston Myers.

(Sen. Russel) Ruderman introduced a bill that would require the Hawaii Department of Health to conduct a study with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation on the impacts of aviation noise on residents.
“Hopefully, their study will find that there is impacts from noise and therefore they need to be involved,” said Ruderman. “In the past, they’ve said, 'It’s not our problem.”
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/02/27/...ompromise/

[kalakoa]

Missed the important bit:

Consequently, any undertaking by DOH to regulate in these areas would be subject to federal preemption and would likely be invalidated.

Translation: "not our responsibility".

Alternate translation: "we're not going to bother".

Crossing threads: didn't DOH staff just get some mandatory raises? That we all paid for with higher taxes? Money well spent?

[Obie]

This is what the DOT said :

However, the DOT would like to make it clear that, although it provides facilities such as terminals and runways for various aircraft operations, the DOT is not responsible for the aircraft once it leaves the ground and does not have jurisdiction regarding noise emitted
by aircraft in flight.

[terracore]

Wow, that is quite the concession considering there is only one Sunday in the next few months where there is a cruise ship in port.

[macuu222]

And nothing worth viewing in the air except dried up lava flows. Actually I'm amazed cruise ships are still cruising on this side of the island.

[Obie]

The largest tour buses ferry people back and forth to Walmart.