Helicopters All Day Long

[omisimaw]

No we don't have wildfires ever day. The helicopters you are complaining about are working helicopters, not pleasure craft. They do various kinds of jobs in addition to firefighting and need to come in for re-rigging when they switch jobs (which is usually seasonal). As well, they are all on a strict maintenance schedule, and run-ups and test flights are essential if they are to be ready for whatever they are called called upon to do.

It just happens that you live in one of the developments nearby. I can understand that it gets annoying but it is what it is. I honestly don't believe that even if the vast majority of home-owners complained about it to M.O.T. or whoever else you can think of, that it would change much. As I said earlier, I think the pilots themselves could afford to be a little more considerate at times but.... they're pilots. It takes a certain kind of person to take that job on. I'll leave it at that.

Well now some are pleasure craft, if you consider doing a 1/2 hour tour pleasure, or having your own personal machine available to fly off to wherever to visit family and friends... so sorry but they are not always working.
They change up in the field and do not fly to base to do that and it depends on the industry as to how seasonal it really is.
Absolutely the maintenance must be done in accordance with TC but again tons done in the field. Every time a machine moves it moves with an engineer and a mobile unit ... again even re & re of a transmission can and is on regular basis done in the field, not in the comfort of a hangar
It does not have to be "it is what it is" any longer and it is Transport Canada that regulates this and besides a noise issue there is also a safety issue. They are very unforgiving machines when they die mid air and one only has to look to the Kootenays for an example of one crashing in a residential area. TC is well aware of this danger and if there is sufficient input they will input measures to mitigate both noise and danger.
The pilots drive the machine, they do not plan or have control on operations... so if the Ops say go here or go there that is what they do and you can bet when Ops plans anything it is with the least amount of expenditure!

[fall]

When ever there are numerous noise complaints reference aircraft/helicopters the first step taken is to determine the actual extent of the problem.
If you want to see how they did this in Vancouver goto
http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/Noise-management/Webtrak.aspx

Some issues in West Kelowna will be that YVR Airport Authority paid for the program (there is no airport authority in West Kelowna), the availability of radar data at low levels, transponder requirements.

Yeah, I don't think something like this is in West Kelownas budget or interests.They allow this free fly for all to go on and expand for the sake of looking good and that they are thriving and open for business. With the amount of air traffic going on daily they should be required to have some sort of authority with regulations and data. The helicopter companies would not like that, they couldn't fly wherever and at whatever altitudes they like, no wonder it is attractive to them. Thanks for the link, interesting.

[fall]

The owner of the mini storage has his own personal machine and heli pad on top of his business across the street from the bus loop and commercial businesses, don't know of many towns that allow that. Look at the stink the hospital in Kelowna went through when they added a heli pad on the roof, and that is being used to save lives and transport sick people.

[LTD]

first of all the FAA dictates altitudes for flight not district of west Kelowna second you do realize that's a heavy industrial area right and three of the four most certainly are not new so get over it

[LTD]

maybe we could get yvr to change their flight path for ya to

[fall]

Well now some are pleasure craft, if you consider doing a 1/2 hour tour pleasure, or having your own personal machine available to fly off to wherever to visit family and friends... so sorry but they are not always working.
They change up in the field and do not fly to base to do that and it depends on the industry as to how seasonal it really is.
Absolutely the maintenance must be done in accordance with TC but again tons done in the field. Every time a machine moves it moves with an engineer and a mobile unit ... again even re & re of a transmission can and is on regular basis done in the field, not in the comfort of a hangar
It does not have to be "it is what it is" any longer and it is Transport Canada that regulates this and besides a noise issue there is also a safety issue. They are very unforgiving machines when they die mid air and one only has to look to the Kootenays for an example of one crashing in a residential area. TC is well aware of this danger and if there is sufficient input they will input measures to mitigate both noise and danger.
The pilots drive the machine, they do not plan or have control on operations... so if the Ops say go here or go there that is what they do and you can bet when Ops plans anything it is with the least amount of expenditure!

Lots of great information, I don't think the majority of the thousands of residents would have a problem with input in regards to this issue.

[fall]

maybe we could get yvr to change their flight path for ya to

Traffic from YVR doesn't hover and circle around homes hundreds of feet above all day. They are very high and pass very quick.

[fall]

first of all the FAA dictates altitudes for flight not district of west Kelowna second you do realize that's a heavy industrial area right and three of the four most certainly are not new so get over it

You really have no idea what you are talking about. Edit, sorry.. ya really aint got no clue whatcha talkin bout!

[omisimaw]

first of all the FAA dictates altitudes for flight not district of west Kelowna second you do realize that's a heavy industrial area right and three of the four most certainly are not new so get over it

Actually that is the US authority, in Canada it is Transport Canada.
The District can and does only control what a person can do on a property zoned in this case industrial and the business of helicopters is defined in that land use. They could change this to stop more entering into the game but there is not that much land suitable to operate so it is doubtful more would open up shop. What the District has no control over is the growth of the business and the number of machines. So what starts with one or two can and does grow to many more in a heartbeat.
No they are not new but they have expanded expeditiously and will grow even more, that is how they make their money.
But come on folks, if it were not the helicopters you would be still complaining about the gravel/dirt operations just around the corner and really there are tons of really stinky industrial business that could set up shop including some with what most would consider toxic consequences.
BUT I do think you have hope in a continuous approach to TC to have them cut back on the annoyance over your homes....
you just have to be consistent in your approach and that committee you spoke of would be better presented as a community approach to transport, including video and sound clips... tis the day of technology and the Inspectors are aware they are but one rung on the bell ringing ladder....
I can tell you one thing for sure, calling the operator is going to get you absolutely nada...

[GenesisGT]

BUT I do think you have hope in a continuous approach to TC to have them cut back on the annoyance over your homes....
you just have to be consistent in your approach and that committee you spoke of would be better presented as a community approach to transport, including video and sound clips... tis the day of technology and the Inspectors are aware they are but one rung on the bell ringing ladder....

Here in lies the problem. Transport Canada does not care about noise, they are strictly the regulator and pass the noise complaint problem off to the local airport authority, which in this case does not exist. TC only cares about regulatory issues, are the helicopters operating within aeronautical regulations. NAV CANADA publishes noise abatement procedures, but is not responsible for them, NC will work with the airport authority to input comments on reducing noise concerns.

Everyone in the industry knows aircraft make noise and in reality no one can do anything about that.

If you want to see how TC weasels around this issue read this
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/standards/aerodromeairnav-standards-noise-menu-923.htm

IMO if there are no regulatory issues and strictly noise issues, there is only two ways to go, one to the operators and/or two to the city. Good luck.

[fall]

What about the altitude requirements? Is that really only 300 feet above subdivisions. Seems awfully low. And given the number of helicopters coming and going should they really need an airport authority. Seems like a lot of grey areas, makes sense why they are here and have not expanded elsewhere.
I remember a forum with people complaining about the police helicopter flying around in Kelowna, try living in West Kelowna and dealing with that on and off every day with helicopters three times the size of the police one. The air traffic has become substantially busier over the years. West Kelowna is in a category all on its own, It does have its advantages to!

[OREZ]

Well now some are pleasure craft, if you consider doing a 1/2 hour tour pleasure, or having your own personal machine available to fly off to wherever to visit family and friends... so sorry but they are not always working.
They change up in the field and do not fly to base to do that and it depends on the industry as to how seasonal it really is.
Absolutely the maintenance must be done in accordance with TC but again tons done in the field. Every time a machine moves it moves with an engineer and a mobile unit ... again even re & re of a transmission can and is on regular basis done in the field, not in the comfort of a hangar
It does not have to be "it is what it is" any longer and it is Transport Canada that regulates this and besides a noise issue there is also a safety issue. They are very unforgiving machines when they die mid air and one only has to look to the Kootenays for an example of one crashing in a residential area. TC is well aware of this danger and if there is sufficient input they will input measures to mitigate both noise and danger.
The pilots drive the machine, they do not plan or have control on operations... so if the Ops say go here or go there that is what they do and you can bet when Ops plans anything it is with the least amount of expenditure!

Actually, my observations and comments are based on years of hands-on experience in the industry. I don't know what you base yours on but thanks for the lecture.

I'm done here.

[Treblehook]

The owner of the mini storage has his own personal machine and heli pad on top of his business across the street from the bus loop and commercial businesses, don't know of many towns that allow that. Look at the stink the hospital in Kelowna went through when they added a heli pad on the roof, and that is being used to save lives and transport sick people.

Yeah, and most people would say that the people who raised that stink over the helipad at the hospital needed their heads read. Pretty self-centered in my opinion.

[Dizzy1]

What about the altitude requirements? Is that really only 300 feet above subdivisions.

1000 feet AGL and 500 feet horizontal according to the CARS unless the aircraft is operating in under certain exemptions.

[Dizzy1]

There could be more noise if they are in a holding pattern at which case they are still way higher than 1000 feet and making big circles.

Aircraft doing circuits at YLW are just under 1000 feet AGL during the day and just over 1500 feet AGL during night, night hand circuits are also always done to the west of YLW ... wonder how long it'll take for all the folks at Quail Ridge to start sniveling.

You do an hour's worth of training, you could easily get in 3-5 circuits including taxi and run up time. The best is when you do your night rating, wait till summer ... longer days means you have to wait till late to do your circuits. I did mine in the winter but my buddy did his in summer so we didn't go up until midnight, headed up to Salmon Arm for a quick touch and go, stopping off and doing a couple of 360s over the Enderby Drive in and then did a couple of touch and go's in Vernon just before 2 AM ... ah good times :)