Hi everyone,
I thought I would try and get the forums going with some discussion about the low flying aircraft that use the skies above the Harbour.
Recently I have been woken up after midnight on a weekday by a Chinook Helicopter from RAF Odiham near Alton in Hampshire. It was hovering above fields close to my house.
I understand the Army, Navy and RAF need to train to keep us well defended, but why were they doing this activity close to residential property after midnight? at the time it had been dark for a good few hours so they don't really have an excuse on that front. This has happened several times over the last few years and also during winter when it gets dark at around 4pm, so why should we have to have our sleep disturbed? I have a job to do as well and in fact we all have to play our part in keeping the economy growing!
Could the Chinooks go somewhere else?
Well ideally their _base_ ought to be relocated to somewhere like Dartmoor or even Exmoor. If they want to train at night I dont have a issue with that, my issue is with the weird times of night they feel they need to operate and thier choices of venue. A lot of the noise from these aircraft comes from banked turns at speed, I think this kind of operation could easily be carried out over the English Channel if they must practice late at night in the dark.
It seems that a local land owner has given permission for low flying, I would like to know why?
Other people I know have had a lot of trouble from aerobatic planes from Goodwood, perhaps we could have your thoughts on my rant here and other airbourne pests!
RANT ENDS!
Stephen