Why
are helos flying down the Central Beach at very low altitude on a sunny
day, when Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet—whose headquarters
is at NAS North Island— has said in a personal letter that helos are
to "enter NAS from the ocean to the south and stay within the NAS
boundaries, when the weather is good, VFR conditions"?
A practice
"controlled approach" for IFR conditions, down the beach, is
permissible now and then for training. These rules were established
years ago between the City and Navy are now being violated. The City
has not approved the current approach pattern down the beach at low
altitudes.
Rules are made for "safety reasons"! In addition, there is a
noise and safety problem to residents in the immediate area.
With the weather warming up, there will be hundreds of people on the
beach and in the surf, whose lives could be in jeopardy. A door fell off
of a helo and into a pool at the Shores some years ago. Helos
occasionally lose their tail rotors and spin and crash, or have other
malfunctions.
Why is the C.O. of NAS allowing the breaking of flight
rules, when a Vice Admiral has said it will not be done?
Earle Callahan
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