July update - Lantana Airport & helicopters

Click here for 20 minute video report

Find out what's been going on since the petition signing began on April 24th and how effective the 227 signatures were at improving the situation with helicopter training schools.

Statement made to the County Commission July 20th

in behalf of the communities surrounding Lantana Airport

July 20th, 2010 Tuesday
Statement made by William Coakley/Lantana Airport Agenda Item 8, matters of the public

I’m William Coakley (5934 Lake Osborne Dr/Lantana) and with me today is Larry Silver who is also a Lake Osborne Estates resident and is Chairman of the board of Directors of that Civic Association.

For the County Commission - Click here for 5 minute video

Click here for part II (5 minutes)

CLICK HERE FOR PART III 8 minutes

CLICK HERE FOR PART IV VIDEO 5 minutes

"Helicopter training must remain within airport boundaries or west of 441..." from the 90's

From the very beginning in the 90's to this day, the County has never approved helicopter training over any populated areas. Above, is the NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES from the 90's.

Why there is no compliance

First a few facts… at times during the week, Lantana Airport may have a much as two and a half times more flight operations than PBI in an area one quarter the size.

During the fifteen year presence of helicopters at Lantana Airport, at no time did the County ever approve helicopter flight training over ANY populated areas around the airport.

In the mid 90’s when helicopter schools applied for tenancy on the airport, the County Commission recognizing the clear threat to the neighboring communities, formalized its intent to protect the public by authorizing and publishing NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES issued through its DOA (Department of Airports).

It is clear the County Commission had anticipated ‘a good faith effort’ and compliance from helicopter training school tenants. But during the past decade and more specifically the past FIVE YEARS, the DOA (Department of Airports) failed to gain any compliance to these relief measures.

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By December 2004, after years of non compliance with these PROCEDURES by training schools; the County intentionally added airport boundary definitions to the PROCEDURES to beef up its efforts to gain compliance and once again confined training operations to that area above the boundaries of the airport.

BOAT PIX - Helicopter Training Academy - investigation continues...

Every resident knows BOAT PIX N220DM caught here on camera buzzing a home at 100 feet MSL (mean sea level) ie about 30 feet above the pine tree he flew over to get to the home. Buzzing homes, marinas, restaurants and businesses at half that altitude are documented througout the area.

BOAT PIX INSTRUCTOR Martin Sintov in a helicopter crash March 28, click this link for story

"Aren't we glad that engine didn't pop off when they were buzzing our houses..." Osborne resident.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO DOCUMENTARY 19 minute

"Reckless Endangerment is a crime consisting of acts that create substantial risk of serous physical injury to another person. The accused person isn't required to intend the resulting or potential harm, but must have acted in a way that showed a disregard for the foreseeable consequences of the actions." (from uslegal.com)

HELICOPTER PILOTS BEHAVING BADLY - how it affects residents - VIDEO

The video on the following page is just a random day out of many and shows what it's like not knowing when the next assault on your neighborhood and your home will occur... an assault on your concentration, your peace of mind, the peaceful enjoyment of your property, your health and safety, and on your quality of life. And no one knows how long the assault from the air will last, or at what moment it will return or cease.

HELICOPTER PILOTS BEHAVING BADLY - the dark secret putting the public at risk

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO

Open letter to city management & Greater Bay regarding our beach and pool

This letter was received in the mail from an anonymous source. After careful examination of its contents, LWM felt that it deserved recognition because of its relevance to an important issue regarding one of our most important assets, our beach. Protections for anonymous speech as well as anonymous sources used on this web site are vital to democratic discourse and allows writers to express their views without fear of retaliation.