By JAMES J. PIEKLO
You know the type. They move next to a railroad track or an airport then immediately start complaining about the noise.
I happen to live directly under the flight path of Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N) in New Jersey, and I don’t mind the noise in the least. Our in-house VHF radio is tuned not only to the Ocean City Unicom, but also to our near-by “large” airport, Atlantic City International Airport (KACY).
Even since I can remember I wanted to fly. To this day I remember a doctor telling me that my eyes would never allow that happen.
It is hard for a 6 year old to have his life-long ambition squelched. But that discouragement did not stop my interest in aviation and I became an avid model builder at least.
As luck would have it, I embarked on a career that in some respects is not very much different from aviation, the marine industry. I frequently would fanaticize I was flying a plane while steering a boat in the ocean or on the Intracoastal Waterway.
So, when we had the opportunity to purchase our home, the fact that it was lined up with the Ocean City runways actually was a bit of a selling point, although the water views also played a major role!
Summer weekends are especially busy at Ocean City, as it is a shore resort community. I can spend hours on the deck with the radio tuned to our local frequency and binoculars close at hand to hear the planes departing and arriving.
For the most part 26N attracts small single and twin engine planes, although a frequent summer visitor is a Citation jet, which on landing probably is quieter than most of the single engine prop models coming in.
Occasionally we will have a helicopter drop by and last summer the highlight was a B-25 in town for our local air expo. I say highlight because it made two low passes over the house and I was able to get a few nice shots of the bird with its gear down.
Many a summer evening is spent out our deck watching the Dolphin helicopters from the Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City as they practice their intercept techniques. Boy, that looks like fun!
One of the items on my to-do list is to take a trip on a Waco biplane that gives rides during the summer months. I don’t know if I would go for the aerobatic ride, but the fact that the plane usually goes right over our home would provide an opportunity for some super aerial shots of the domicile.
So, there you have it pilots. The next time you land or take off from 26N, chances are there will be this guy down on the ground listening to your radio communications and/or watching you through the binoculars, all the while wishing he was up there with you.
Bill – absolutely right. Unfortunately, 14 C.F.R. Part 150 is entitled “Airport Noise Compatibility Planning,” and airports typically reference “noise complaints,” “noise hotline,” “noise abatement” and the like. Those who complain do regard it as noise. We in the beautiful-music crowd will continue to counter that.
James,
I noted you used the word “noise”. I see people use that word a lot and reminded that it is not really the correct word. The word is “sound”. There is a lot of sounds around an airport. Some people may think the sounds they hear are “noise” and others think they are “beautiful music”.
Best wishes on your learning to fly.
Bill
Get out there and fly James!
James – heed these gentlemen: pursue all avenues – all flight paths? – and don’t give up.
Your intro hit the laugh nerve, as my aviation career began in noise abatement: the complaint about noise from “the new airport” – a new terminal, with airfield stayed in place. The request that the airport (large hub/international) close from 1-4 on a certain afternoon as the requester was having a party. Best: “When we moved here 20 years ago there was no noise.” (Thank the aviation gods a Deputy Director quickly flew me off to Properties.)
Ocean City is a fine place – enjoy the views, boating, radio listening and binoculars watching, but get up there too! To-Do lists exist for a reason………….
You need to double check your ability to fly. DOCTORS WHO ARE NOT PILOTS DON’T KNOW THE REQUIREMENTS! There is a lot of misinformation in the medical community about fitness for flight.
I would recommend meeting with an Aviation Medical Examiner for a consultation (not an actual exam at first) or calling the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilot’s Association) first.
As a previous poster commented you can fly sport pilot with a driver’s license. Go for it!
Great article! I have flown into Ocean City a number of times- what a great airport! 5 minutes from chocks to the surf.
James, don’t give up on your dream to learn to fly. Surely, advances that have been made in the field of vision medicine are available. Besides, if you are passing the eye test for your drivers license, you should be able to pass an eye test to fly. What about Light Sport. No physical required. Don’t be laying on your death bed wishing you had done it, DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful words of encoragement. Too many pilots have been grounded or never see their dream because of the dreaded 3CM.
If you’d like to get involved with those Coast Guard Rotery Wing Air Intercepts the Coast Guard Auxiliary needs pilots who are willing to volunteer their time and planes for that particular mission. I’m the Flotilla Commander of one of the two units that fly the small airplanes acting as practice intercept aircraft. Contact me at [email protected]
James, if you can see well enough to navigate a boat, you can almost certainly see well enough to fly. You don’t have to fly professionally, to be a pilot. Join us!
Thanks for sharing James, the nest time I am departing or arriving at the airport I will be sure to look for you down there. Go the your airport and see the guy that gives flying lessons and tell him your story and I bet if he does not take you up himself he will point you to someone who will.
Go for it my friend, “fly high – fly free” do this one selfish thing just for yourself, you will be forever grateful that you did.
Steve Du Toit — South Africa