Are Commercial Planes Flying Too Low Over My Neighborhood?

I really like that the originator of this thread thinks that maybe ALL of these airplanes are at the (same) wrong altitude. As though all the pilots are making the same mistake and no one has noticed except him. Of course, I’m often convinced that I’m the only sane person around, so maybe he’s on to something!

I can’t hear at all – so I shopped around in the neighborhood right next to the longest runway (used by jets) at the main regional airport about 1/2 to 1 mile away via a back road. I got a great price, and I enjoy sitting in my recliner in my living room, with big glass windows so I can watch planes turn final for the runway. :slight_smile: Hog heaven!

Occasionally, it gets even more interesting, such as when Air Force One turned then landed – mostly visible from my recliner. I was thinking ‘Boy, got it made!’ Probably the best usable view since the Secret Service had completely iced out airport operations on all sides of the field for the 1-2 hours before and after departure.

Then there’s the fun when the U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18s practice the day before a show once every few years - screaming out at couple hundred knots between perhaps 500-1000 ft AGL over my head. Whoo! And I mean, literally over my head as my house is directly underneath the departure if you take off from the main runway and make a turn OR if you take off from another runway that is nearly parallel to me.

I do miss flying, however. No longer do that - medical no longer valid. Oh well, enjoyed it when I was flying, and have good memories.

On a more serious note, quite sympathize with folks who don’t have it such so good. :frowning: A colleague at work lives right under the main flight path for the same runway (but in the opposite direction) about 15 minutes drive away from me. He couldn’t figure out why the pricing was so good until he moved in then soon realized why. :frowning:

The look on his face when I looked up his address and realized it was directly underneath the main arrival route (STAR) for the main runway… was quite memorable. I showed it to him and explained how planes flew that route – something clicked, because what he was seeing and hearing matched exactly what I had described. I told him next time he was buying a house, to check with me for any SIDs/STARs/local patterns.

After that, I now advise first time house buyers to check out where their headlights goes if the neighborhood has a nearby curve (or bend), at night – to see if headlights fall upon the windows while rounding the curve, and if an airport is within 10-15 minutes drive, to stop by during different times of the day and listen to see what they hear, amongst other things. (I don’t recommend nights mostly because of reduced air traffic late at night, but sound does transmit better when it’s cooler.)

I’m really sorry the original poster isn’t enjoying his new location. I don’t know what to suggest after the fact except to mention that there will usually be someone who actually wants the location if he chooses to sell at some point. People have their reasons; I had mine, which was straightforward enough.

Do you drive?

Sports pilot licence comes to my mind.

Allen

Great minds think alike Allen, I was thinking of suggesting he check into LSA as well.

But he might have a problem due to the fact that he lost his medical. IIRC the FAA views that differently than never having had one.

Duh, probably his very first sentence would be the reason his medical may have been / or is an issue especially if he lives in a high density traffic area requiring the use of radios.

And yes, I believe you are absolutely correct, if you your medical is pulled by the FAA, you cannot excercise the privileges of a sports pilot per faa.gov/licenses_certificate … response3/

faa.gov/licenses_certificate … ortpilots/ would be the full dope on sports piloting and medical self certification.