While there are people who dislike airport noise in general, if you live on a flightpath it is pretty well unavoidable; nonetheless the obsolete Purolator jet rattles windows all over Sidney.
On Curteis Point, aircraft overflights are the norm but usually last less than 30 seconds, so we have no problem with that. However, over the last 15 years we have noted the greatly increased frequency of Sea King training activity, most notably at night and frequently at altitudes so low that on occasion the vibration rattles our dishes. Especially annoying is having to endure the intrusive sound of after-midnight take-offs and landings and presumably hovering practice at the base. The noise is such that during the summer, we have to keep our windows closed or else sleep is problematic.
This particular issue must not be conveniently buried under the general term “airport noise.” It is point-source specific, night-time and overflight altitude-related and is caused by the at-airport Sea King training exercises.
A redirection of flight paths to less inhabited areas should be possible. A civilian airport is hardly the place for military touch-and-go training during the night when residents of the Saanich Peninsula are trying to sleep. Still noisier replacement Cyclone helicopters are likely to only make matters worse.
I see no alternative to flying from the airport, however flight simulators could be the answer. Given the amount of our tax dollars that the Harper government has expended on the hangar ($104 million), the expense of flight simulators can hardly be used as an excuse. There are ways to mitigate this situation but is there a will?
George M. Kruzynski, North Saanich