Private Plane Nuisance?

Question

I live in a scenic part of Tucson, Arizona (Gates Pass) and we get a LOT of private plane traffic over the Pass including aerobatic planes, vintage planes, and kit planes. Although they are probably legal, more than a few seem to operate at minimum altitude and full throttle; i.e. LOUD! I would guess we have at least 5 low flyovers every Sat/Sun morning and at least 2-3 low flyovers on weekdays. You can even hear some in the shower early in the morning!

What can I do? I've contacted the FAA, the airports, the flight companies, the government, individuals, etc. What else can I do?

Answer 1

Tuscon, if I recall correctly, has a large flight training facility.

You have 3 options.

You can chose to do nothing and ignore it, you can decide you want to take on another mortgage while you move and try to sell your old home, or you can do what I do; learn to love aviation.

I've been intimately involved with some form of aviaiton or another for the last 13 years. Few things thrill me like being able to hear an airplane and have a good idea what make and model it is before it gets to a point where I can see it.

Radial pistons, opposed pistons, V-pistons, (think P-51 or P-38,) inline pistons, inline inverted pistons, (such as the old Ranger on a PT-19,) reverse flow turboprops, axial flow turboprops, reverse flow turboprops acting as axial flow turboprops, turbojets, turbofans of varying degrees of by-pass, all make their own distinctive sound.

As long as the aircraft in question aren't violating altitude laws, which they likely wouldn't going into the local airport, there's nothing you can do except maybe take an introduction lesson at the local FBO.

Once you've flown, in a small plane and seeing as close as legally possible, the scenery, you'll never be able to look at the same scenery from the ground in the same way you did before and you'll come to love the magnificent aircraft that were designed when slide rules were the calculators of the days when you couldn't solve a math problem on paper and the ratchet wrench didn't exist.

A 4th possibility just sprang to mind; you can spend a few grand, get your home's elevation surveyed, invest in a surveyor's telescope and report anyone under FAA regs provided you have their tail number, documented times, detailed notes on directions and wind factors.

So, your problem boils down to an inability to conveniently stop the flights, investing a massive amount of money and time into equipment and documentation to attempt to prove aircraft are operating illegally, embracing and coming to love private flight, or getting up to move house and home because the airplanes, and airport, have been there longer than you have.

The likelihood that an airplane passing over is an actual threat to you is very slim. The Airplane Owners and Pilots Association, (AOPA,) is already feeling the loss of municipal airports and beginning to succesfully argue cases to keep airports open that neighboring residents have tried to close.

Those are the facts as I know them. You choose what you're going to do.

JT

Answer 2

Live with the noise, or better still join 'em.
By definition a pass is a low spot between mountains. The elevation in Tucson is already over 2300 feet, and the mountains to the west are over 9,000. If I were flying West from Tucson in the plane I normally fly, a pass would be very convenient, because on a hot day, I would have trouble just getting airborne. Gates Pass seems like the most logical route to take if heading West.

Answer 3

Stop complaining, Do you know how many other people actually have real problems? I live near a flight school that has 6 aircraft flying around all day nonstop, and its not even close to annoying, I barely even notice them.
Seriously, your complaining is far more annoying that a small aircraft could ever be, and the FAA is never going to do anything, never going t go out of their way and spend a significant amount of time to redo maps, and redirect traffic. There is not even a slight chance of it, they will not spend so many reasouces on something so incredibly ignorant.

Answer 4

What a coincidence! I have a similar problem!!

My neighbor bitches about the airplane noises all the time. It drives me crazy, I've called the police and I have obsessed in trying to find a solution to getting rid of that bothersome noise that streaks from her mouth.

I respect the fact that she lived here before me and I made the mistake of not researching this problem as a possibility before I bought in this neighborhood.

I have considered just shoving an apple in her mouth but that wouldn't be very mature of me.

So I am selling my house and moving away from the NOISE!!!

If you find a solution to your problem, let me know. Maybe we can start a private community together that's free from all sounds. Even away the freakin birds that like to twerp in the morning. Another thing that just DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!

Oh, and since were on the subject of annoyances, can I add, I hate people that drive slow in the carpool lanes when there is no traffic. GET THE HECK OVER TO THE RIGHT!!!

Answer 5

Having contacted the FAA and your elected representatives, I can only suggest you and your neighbors start a campaign to put a noise-abatement ordinance in place.

Though I personally despise anyone who does that. Like a previous respondant, I LOVE the sound of various aircraft, and can identify almost all those in my area (on final for SFO, and San Carlos Municipal). I grew up on the final approach for NAS Moffett Field, and spent 15 years living and working aboard NAS North Island and 6 different aircraft carriers.

Nothing torques me more than folks who move INTO an aviation-rich environment, and THEN whine about the noise. Especially when the airfield has been there for decades or even generations.

I'm sorry that they annoy you...

Answer 6

To Charles M: What is a "noise ambient procedure"? Do you mean "noise abatement procedure"? Actually, local airports are fairly sensitive to local noise considerations. Where exactly are you in relation to the airport? Airports do implement noise abatement procedures for noise-sensitive areas which are in close proximity to the airport and which usually underlie the initial climb path (upwind leg). My suspicion is that you do not live in such an area. One possible step for you is to organize other affected residents and to seek voluntary cooperation from local pilots if the pilots are affiliated with a particular flight school, flying club, rental operation, or are otherwise identifiable. You can also contact your local FAA Regional Counsel office and seek an advisory opinion or other input. If there are no FAR or procedural violations, the aforementioned voluntary cooperation is probably your only shot.

Answer 7

I agree that maybe you need to find a new home. Try and find a place that is not located in a low pass through the mountains. Small aircraft need to use those areas since they are unable to normally climb high enough to go over the top of the mountain. Especially in Tucson where the temperatures can severely restrict your aircraft performance.

Answer 8

Sorry, the best thing to do is to move. There aren't too many new airports around and I'm guessing it was there when you moved into your house.

Most private pilots try to be conciensious and avoid noise exposure to populated areas. Many small airports have an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association where pilots meet to talk shop and safety. If you contact them in a friendly and proactive matter, they might encourage other pilots to try and avoid low and loud overflight of your residence.

Answer 9

Gee now what? Retard throttle when passing over area XXX. Obviously the FAA does not think that a Noise ambient procedure is necessary. If it was pilots would have to follow it. GA pilots have as much right to be up there as you do to be on a road driving a car. You just need a license.

Answer 10

Your best bet is to move somewhere else. The rights of aircraft and pilots are heavily protected by law. The fact that they are there suggests that the people who don't notice or don't mind outnumber the ones that are bothered by the flights.

So the best recommendation is just to find a nice, quiet place, sell your house, and move.

Sorry.