COLUMN: Helicopter fly-bys are ‘disturbing the peace' in Destin

Yesterday, while my wife and I were relaxing on the beach enjoying the beautiful weather during our annual monthly visit to the Gulfgate Condos here in Destin, a helicopter appeared for more than two hours and completely destroyed our peace and quiet. The helicopter apparently followed the same flight pattern from around 2 p.m. until almost 5 p.m.

It would come from the west down the beach over the water, bank left and start its descent toward the Destin Airport. It would fly right over or slightly around our beach and the Destin Gulfgate Condo building at various and low altitudes.

This same flight pattern was repeated approximately every five minutes. It was literally “disturbing the peace.” After calling the Destin airport, I was informed that a client named Destin Jet was training new helicopter pilots for several weeks.

I have no personal knowledge of FAA rules, but I do question how, when and where helicopter training is allowed and how low they are allowed to fly. Yesterday, it was my personal experience that this military grey and unmarked helicopter flew over us at various and inconsistent altitudes every five minutes.

Can you imagine trying to read, nap or relax on the beach with the disturbingly loud noise of a helicopter every five minutes. A couple of the usual military fly-bys each day is loud enough. Could they change their flight patterns to avoid the beach?

Doesn’t anybody understand that these continual helicopter flights on the beach are causing ill will and negatively effecting Destin's number one industry: Visitors?

Why hasn’t the City of Destin taken any measures to assure that this major disturbance is NOT allowed?
Does the Destin Chamber of Commerce care? Is there an agency of any kind that can and should address this problem? Does anyone in Okaloosa County care about the needs and desires of the non-residents that visit, spend money and subsidizes the majority of the region's tax revenues?

I'm hopeful that you'll consider this a serious issue that should be addressed. My family and many good friends have enjoyed Destin since 1972, and we care very much about its current well-being and future. Thanks for anything that you can do to help resolve or eliminate the helicopter training fly-bys on the beach.

Joe O’Connor is a Marietta, Ga., resident and regular Destin visitor staying at Destin Gulfgate Condominiums. He sent these comments to Tracy Stage, the Destin Airport manager.
           

For another letter writer's take on the issue, click here.