JOhnH
Touchdown! Greaser!
I will be attending our local City Aviation Advisory board tonight. Noise abatement is a big issue and I have a couple of ideas that I wanted to run by you guys before I voice them in public and look stupid in person.
One big stumbling point is that the City actually has no control over the airport because it is Federal. But irate citizens don't want to hear that.
Citizens also don't want to hear that the airport was here first and if they have a problem with noise, they shouldn't have bought near an airport. Of course, I am biased, but arguing doesn't change anything.
Idea one: Place some sort of very visible tower with a huge flag or a light that would indicate to pilots where they are to turn. A sign at the hold-short line could remind pilots when, which direction and at what altitude to turn.
How tall would such a tower have to be and would this be considered an aviation hazard.
Idea two: Ask tower controllers to "remind" pilots that are not following the noise abatement procedures. They could ask them to fly a tighter pattern, turn sooner (or later) etc. I wouldn't suggest they add this dialog for EVERY flight, but when they see someone violating the established (voluntary) noise abatement rules, a reminder might help. We have a lot of flight schools and a lot of students that cannot seem to remember these procedures. After all, students have a whole lot of things to remember as it is. They could even keep a log of tail numbers that they remind to provide to the schools.
I know the city has no authority over the controllers, but is it unreasonable to ask this? I am just trying to come up with ideas to help defuse a rather contentious situation. I live in one of the neighborhoods near the airport and I am reluctant to even let my neighbors know I have an airplane as that would make me the enemy.
One big stumbling point is that the City actually has no control over the airport because it is Federal. But irate citizens don't want to hear that.
Citizens also don't want to hear that the airport was here first and if they have a problem with noise, they shouldn't have bought near an airport. Of course, I am biased, but arguing doesn't change anything.
Idea one: Place some sort of very visible tower with a huge flag or a light that would indicate to pilots where they are to turn. A sign at the hold-short line could remind pilots when, which direction and at what altitude to turn.
How tall would such a tower have to be and would this be considered an aviation hazard.
Idea two: Ask tower controllers to "remind" pilots that are not following the noise abatement procedures. They could ask them to fly a tighter pattern, turn sooner (or later) etc. I wouldn't suggest they add this dialog for EVERY flight, but when they see someone violating the established (voluntary) noise abatement rules, a reminder might help. We have a lot of flight schools and a lot of students that cannot seem to remember these procedures. After all, students have a whole lot of things to remember as it is. They could even keep a log of tail numbers that they remind to provide to the schools.
I know the city has no authority over the controllers, but is it unreasonable to ask this? I am just trying to come up with ideas to help defuse a rather contentious situation. I live in one of the neighborhoods near the airport and I am reluctant to even let my neighbors know I have an airplane as that would make me the enemy.