QUESTION: Do you know anything about the constant, low-flying, extremely noisy helicopters that have been buzzing residential communities for the past month? Would you know who to complain to? I imagine there must be altitude requirements for these aircraft, especially over residential areas, as they are dangerous and nuisances.

ANSWER: We receive frequent complaints about noisy helicopters and small planes flying over various neighborhoods.

General aviation aircraft flying in uncontrolled airspace do not have to file a flight plan, so there might not be a record of who’s flying.

According to what the Federal Aviation Administration has told us previously, only aircraft in controlled airspace, basically around airports, have to file flight plans.

You can register a complaint with the state Department of Transportation, which will forward it to the FAA. Call the DOT hot line at 888-697-7813.

However, the FAA does not regulate noise.

As long as the aircraft is flying above minimum altitudes and is not doing aerobatics or otherwise flying unsafely, it is allowed to fly at any time over your neighborhood.

"However, helicopters are not subject to the same 1,000-foot altitude restriction as airplanes when they fly over populated areas," FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. "Rather, helicopters must be flown so that they don’t pose a hazard to people or property on the ground. This basically means that helicopter pilots have to fly in a manner that allows them to safely set down the helicopter if it loses all engine power."

See archives.starbulletin.com/2008/02/10/news/kokualine.html for more information.

QUESTION: The Karsten Thot bridge in Wahiawa has been in the news recently (the body of a man was found in waters near the bridge). Who or what was Karsten Thot? I could not find any such information on the Internet.

ANSWER: Karston Thot Bridge, located on Kamehameha Highway just north of Kilani Avenue, was named after a German immigrant who came to Hawaii in 1904 and was a field supervisor for Hawaiian Pineapple Co.

Other than being described as "a prominent community-minded citizen," not much information is known about him.

Thot was born in 1889 and died in 1932, the year the bridge was built for $65,555. The bridge was named after him in 1937.

The bridge, once an important link between Honolulu and the North Shore, is one of only three metal truss bridges in the islands and the only one of its type on Oahu.

We explained who Thot was a few years ago, after a relative on the mainland inquired about why the bridge was named after him.

MAHALO

To the owner of Scrub A Dub, who showed that there is still so much aloha here. I am a 68-year-old male who took my dog to the dog grooming place to have a bath and have her nails cut the day before Thanksgiving. This was the first time I had gone there. When I picked up my dog, the owner and I were talking story when she asked if it was "just you and the dog." I told her yes, that I lost my wife two months ago. Without another word she asked this perfect stranger if I would like to have Thanksgiving dinner with her and her family. I thanked her very much but told her I was going to spend it with my children. — M. Millies