Written by Email from our Mayor, our city attorney, our Public Works Director, and our Airport Manager about the recent night-time helicopter operations.
I don’t usually publish emails quite this candid and informal; but this email is already public record, and I wanted citizens to know that City Hall is taking this seriously.
From: “Ryan Zulauf” <rzulauf@ci.renton.wa.us>
Date: June 18, 2008 5:19:46 PM PDT
To: “Law, Denis” <dlaw@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Warren, Larry” <ljwarren@seanet.com>, “Zimmerman, Gregg” <gzimmerman@ci.renton.wa.us>
Cc: “Alexander, April” <analexander@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Briere, Terri” <tbriere@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Corman, Randy” <rcorman@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Covington, Jay” <jcovington@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Hahn, Peter” <phahn@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Medzegian, Julia” <jmedzegian@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Palmer, Marcie” <mpalmer@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Parker, King” <kparker@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Persson, Don” <dpersson@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Taylor, Greg” <gtaylor@ci.renton.wa.us>, “Zwicker, Rich” <rzwicker@ci.renton.wa.us>
Subject: RE: Helicopter
These items have already been suggested and it is up to Mr. O’Leary to patch this mess up when he meets with the Mayor next week.
Ryan
>>> Gregg Zimmerman 6/18/2008 2:35 PM >>>
Thanks, Ryan. I think we need to try to obtain a statement from AirO regarding their intentions with this new line of business. Was this helicopter ride for the highschool students a one-time event? If they plan to do it next year, will they be willing to work with us regarding hours and routes? Do they intend to change the whole character of their presence at the airport and their impact on neighborhoods by expanding this line of business to other events? This would be good information to know so that we can better establish the approach that we need to take. Please ask Mike for a response to these concerns. This is information that the Mayor will want to know if Mike does give him a call.
Gregg
>>> Ryan Zulauf 6/18/2008 11:47 AM >>>
I spoke to Mr. O’Leary this morning and I suggested that he needs to call you directly and have a conversation about the graduation events.
Ryan
>>> “Larry Warren” <ljwarren@seanet.com> 6/18/2008 10:47 AM >>>
As wrong as it seems, the city’s hands are tied about the noise level, type
of craft and time of operation at the airport. Snohomish County is being
forced to negotiate with a commercial carrier for use of Paine Field for
trips to Las Vegas.
It seems that our best course of conduct is to work with the operator to be
a good neighbor. If there is no cooperation, then maybe the complaints
should be directed to the carrier and maybe to the FAA. Also, I suppose the
city could make a big deal about how its hands are tied and this particular
carrier is taking advantage of the system. Having your name on TV every
Monday night or even the subject of a public hearing might be cause to
decide to be a better neighbor.
—–Original Message—–
From: Denis Law[mailto:DLaw@ci.renton.wa.us]
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 6:31 AM
To: Ryan Zulauf; Larry Warren
Cc: April Alexander; Don Persson; Greg Taylor; Jay Covington; Julia
Medzegian; King Parker; Marcie Palmer; Randy Corman; Rich Zwicker; Terri
Briere
Subject: Helicopter
Larry and Ryan,
Please take a few minutes to examine the details surrounding the helicopter
use this past week at the airport. It seems ridiculous that we have no legal
basis to take action against AirO or others involved in negatively impacting
the community in the early morning hours with a use that only satisfies
their personal gain. While this time it’s for graduation, what prevents this
from becoming a fairly regular event?
I also want us to consider directing complaints to Michael O’Leary, and
anyone else responsible for the activity, unless you feel this is unwise. At
the very least, we may want to work the council to take a closer look at
how we plan to use any extra hangar space that becomes available on the
field, including restricting any additional space for users that will
negatively impact the surrounding neighborhoods. We may want to revisit
costs and funding options of building hangar space that we control and
lease.
Thanks.
Denis
What were they thinking??
Thanks to the City for taking this seriously. What were those guys thinking? And are they really using our airport for Grad Nights? I know most of the airport users try to be good neighbors but these Air O/Worldwind bozos really must be clueless.
Keeping grads from getting drunk and driving is admirable, but putting them in an airplane hangar and then flying them around in circles all night? C’mon. You’ve got to be kidding me. What grad would want that? May as well just put ’em in a parking lot with a ferris wheel.
We need a good attorney
The City needs to hire an attorney that has experience in dealing with the FAA. We need to implement hours of operation and night time limitations as other airports have been able to do. It is feasible. It has been done. Is O’Leary a member of RAAC? Or just a tenant? This is a clear example of a tenant who has heard the importance of being a good neighbor and the fly friendly policy choosing to operate in a disruptive manner anyway. And our airport management does nothing. Where was RAAC on this? Where was the Airport/Transportation Committee? Whether it’s helicopters on helipads in neighborhoods or keeping citizens awake all night for joy rides, the City needs to establish rules.
Thanks for looking into this
We’ve had some rough nights here in North Renton.
The “Relay For Life” at the stadium kept us up at night with their music (at all hours of the night), and now the copters.
Having them loiter around like that is dangerous, and our 1907 house might as well not have walls when it comes to sound.
Grumble.
License Fee?
Can Renton create a special business category and charge a large Business License fee for companies like this?
If they fit the category of “Nightime Helicopter Tour Operator” and that beusiness license cost $200,000 then that would but an end to their operation.
The old saw: “The power of taxation is the power to destroy” can work in our favor for a change.
Re: License Fee?
Good idea!
Ben’s Loan sells earplugs at a real fair price. Maybe Al Gore and his liberal friends can design a hybrid silent helicopter
helicopters
It is too bad that the City doesn’t feel the same way about helicopters flying out of private homes in Kennydale .They plan to make text changes to the R 8 zone to allow Mr Conner to keep his chopper at his home and fly it at any time of the day or night with no restrictions
There is another pressure point that the City has used before. When does AirO’s lease expire? The City has refused to renew leases of problem tenants at the airport in the past, and this tenant is certainly asking for the same. They should understand that if they keep it up, their days in Renton are numbered.
A bunch of whiners
I read these complaints and I have to laugh. You buy a house near an airport, and then you complain about the noise. How often does this grad party night happen? Very rarely. You sit here and complain about the noise, until your son is involved in a car accident at night and needs to be rushed to a hospital, quite possibly by a helicopter. Would you then have a problem with the noise?
Helicopters provide a huge valuable service to the community, whether it’s picking up someone involved in a accident and rushing to the hospital, locating an injured person on Rainier and getting them the medical attention they need, fire fighting, spill prevention, and providing a service to students who just graduated by keeping them off the streets drinking and driving and showing them a little something about aviation and helicopters. I can spend all night discussing the values behind helicopters. What harm is done?
Three things you complainers need to learn:
1. Patience
2. Ear Plugs Do Exist
3. Common Sense
Regarding Charlie’s use of his helicopter at his property…how early in the morning and how late does he take off on a frequent basis? Maybe instead of attacking him, you can try and work with him and come to a mutual agreement. I’ve met him and he’s a very reasonable guy. He in fact probably puts up with your occasional loud parties, your loud Harley, or your son’s obnoxious rap or metal blasting in his car that virtually has no exhaust.
Re: A bunch of whiners
What ever happened to parental responsibility? It’s up to the parents to make sure their kids aren’t out drinking and driving. It’s not up to a helicopter business to do that, or the rest of the community to do that. There is absolutely no need for helicopter rides all night long that disturb the community. Let’s see parents step up and take responsibility for their kids.
Re: A bunch of whiners
I disagree….parents play a huge role in responsibility, however, kids need other role models besides their parents. Helicopters and the people involved provide an excellent environment for kids. They realize how safety sensitive the operation is, along with the experience of being in a helicopter. It’s a win win situation and a little infrequent noise doesn’t hurt anyone.
Re: A bunch of whiners
Driving while sleepy is just as bad as driving while drunk.. Two sleepless nights from your helicopter made me a horrid driver the next two days.
You traded the potential drink driving problem into a real problem – making hundred of working people drive sleepy then next day.
Thanks a lot Helicopter A$$#0L$ – you endangered me and my family just so you could make a buck.
Re: A bunch of whiners
You have got to be kidding! Do you really think the kids that are the boozers were lined up to take helicopter rides? Oh please! This was nothing but a money making venture. There weren’t any kids saved from the dangers of drinking and driving by this. Let the kids ride in helicopters during the day to see how great they are. Cut the rides off at 8 p.m. so the rest of the community isn’t inconvenienced. Let the parents be responsible for their children.
Re: A bunch of whiners
Isn’t a “role model” someone that sets a good example? That has nothing to do with responsibility. A role model doesn’t have the ultimate responsibility that the parents have.