Letter: All populated areas need tour-copter regs

U.S. Rep. Ed Case’s bill, the “Safe and Quiet Skies Act,” does not go far enough (“Case bill would tighten limits on tour flights,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 29). It suggests prohibiting tour helicopter flights over “military installations, national cemeteries, national wilderness areas, national parks, and national wildlife refuges.”

As an inhabitant in a city that has frequent tour helicopter flights overhead, it seems that these also should be prohibited over residential and commercial areas. The health and safety of those of us who live or work below the flight paths have consistently been ignored by tour companies.

We watched as they fished the people and helicopter out of Kaneohe Bay, relieved that it had not crashed into the homes just a quarter mile to the south. We were saddened by the television news of the tragic crash of another helicopter in Kailua, relieved that people in nearby homes or driving on Oneawa Street were not injured or killed.

The “Quiet and Safe Skies Act” should be enacted nationwide, prohibiting these flights over all populated areas in the United States.

Eileen Glaholt

Kaneohe

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