I wanted to respond to this and to the prior comments, because I don’t think it is nice to call people idiots when you don’t know the facts, and especially when you have the wrong information.
I am one of the residents living very close to the airport. I have a few points to make that should clear things up for those of you who think we “complainers” have no rights. Most importantly, we are not complaining about the noise from the airport!! You all have it VERY WRONG on that respect. What we are complaining about is two fold: 1) the planes that do not follow the VNAP out to the ocean, but instead take off and veer very sharply southwest over hundreds of homes, at very low altitudes; and 2) planes taking off during the “quiet hours” between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., during which time there is NO ONE IN THE CONTROL TOWER! We of course do not include emergency aircraft.
Palomar Airport spent tens of thousands of dollars years ago to compile information that was published in a study recommending they fly out to the ocean before making turns. This pattern is a voluntary pattern. Most pilots adhere to it. BUT there are many who do not.
The quiet hour rule has been in effect for years, but also is a voluntary rule. Most accidents have happened during the early morning hours when there was no one manning the control towers. We would also like this rule to be enforced as mandatory, with the exception of emergency flights.
In the last one to two years out of the 10 years I have lived in my home I can tell you that this violation of the recommended VNAP occurs numerous times on a daily basis and is getting worse, especially in the last year. My children have commented that they were able to see the pilot in several planes!! Our fear is that this is a major accident waiting to happen, much like the one that occurred in San Diego last month. However, with the high concentration of homes in this area it would be an enormous disaster.
If the airport would mandate this VNAP procedure that THEY INSTITUTED then we would not complain any longer. Yes, there were notices posted about the proximity of the airport and potential noise in the sales office when I purchased my home, yes: I was aware there was an airport nearby; yes: I came to the neighborhood at different times and listened for the planes (it was very quiet in those days–Palomar was a mom and pop airport with much less traffic). I investigated the airport and its single runway and knew there was really no room for expansion, and it was not an issue at the time. Planes did not fly over the homes.
We “complainers” are not anti-airport. In fact, I have used the airport!! It is very convenient. Again, we just want to protect our families and homes from an inherent disaster. If the airport officials stopped passing the buck and worked with the FAA to mandate the VNAP we would all be satisfied.
Whether the city of Carlsbad should have allowed the building of neighborhoods in the proximity of an airport is a moot point. What we have to deal with now is the SAFETY ISSUE. Then everyone can live without fear and the airport can go on as it is.
When you call people names without understanding the facts that makes you the moron.
