Gates County, N.C., declines test flights over proposed OLF

Posted to: Military North Carolina
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By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 4, 2008

Test flights are not wanted in Gates County any more than an outlying landing field.

Gates County commissioners sent a letter to the Navy on Tuesday declining the offer to fly F/A-18 Super Hornet jets over a proposed airfield site in the Sandbanks region.

"Since the jets cannot practice actual touch-and-go landings, the demonstration would not convey the accurate noise levels of an OLF," the letter said. "With the high costs of fuel and our current national debt, it would be wasteful to spend taxpayer money on such an inaccurate demonstration."

Last month, the Navy announced it would fly over the five sites proposed for an OLF in a pattern that would simulate jet noise levels. The jets would not be able to touch down but would fly as low as 600 feet.

Retired Navy pilot Roger Lambertson from Camden County said at the time that flyovers would not accurately duplicate noise levels of jets touching down and having to power engines to full thrust to climb again.

"The Navy has used the excuse of fuel prices with us when we mention other sites," Gates County Commissioner Kenneth Jernigan said Wednesday. "We've said Fort Pickett, and they say it costs too much to fly that distance, " Jernigan said, referring to the Virginia site.

The Navy acknowledged receiving the letter but had no response late Wednesday, spokesman Ted Brown said.

Jernigan, who lives within the noise zone of the proposed Sandbanks OLF site, serves on a task force of residents and officials opposing the airfield.

Camden and Gates counties in North Carolina and Sussex, Southampton and Prince George counties in Virginia were selected in January as proposed sites where Navy jets would practice carrier landings.

Residents and officials at each site have overwhelmingly opposed a Navy airfield near their homes, largely because of concerns about noise.

The Navy is conducting environmental impact statements on each of the five sites and plans to eventually name a new preferred site.

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com

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More crap

Submitted by Ira Tateu on Tue, 06/10/2008 at 3:46 pm.

First, I would like to welcome NCguy to the Virginia Pilot. I normally see you over at the Advance.

Carolyn, For once you said something that makes sense. People should go to Fentress and look. In fact, it would be better. From someone who used to live near Oceana I should tell those of you doing this to do it on multiple dates. The jets are inconsistent. One day it will be one after the other, some days none. T osave some time, just drive down Mt. Pleasant during ops. Turn your radio way up and it will still jar you.

It's there to observe. Carolyn's statements are so completely untruthful I have to believe she is here on the boards undercover so to speak on behalf of the Navy. No one could say that 117DB flights, one after the other is not noticable and be sincere. In the end, she has admitted before that she doesn't always dwell on facts as much as she depends on her unqualified opinion.

Obviously there are some people who will want the flyovers.

Submitted by Carolyn R on Thu, 06/05/2008 at 11:24 pm.

I would also suggest to them that they go to Fentress to get the real experience. I think a lot of people will be greatly surprised at what they don't hear.

The Navy bullies or threatens again

Submitted by NCguy on Thu, 06/05/2008 at 6:58 pm.

From the Daily Advance 4 June 2004: "Catoire said the Navy couldn't promise at this time not to fly jets over the Camden or Gates sites. He said a flyover might be necessary to gauge noise levels as part of the ongoing study process." So here the county commissioners representing the citizens of this county ask the Navy and CDR Catoire says sorry, were gonna fly over your heads even if you do not want it. Did the Navy do any of these live noise studies for the old NEPA study? Nope. They used a computer model for all the noise contours. Is flying a jet in this manor scientific with controls, NOPE. it is just a waste of time. Is the Navy fostering a since of team and partnership with the sites? NOPE. The live noise studies the Navy did was years later and failed miserably to pass the scientific test. Half of the desired tests were not accomplished because of birds in the area and bird strike potentials. The Navy called the tests satisfactorily completed thou.

Kudos to Gates County Citizens

Submitted by skybluepink on Thu, 06/05/2008 at 8:15 am.

It is so refreshing to see honest truthful people in Gates County trying to stand up and protect it's citizens in this OLF situation! Of course the fly over would not be true or honest! The Navy's noise levels are already distorted by averaging the sound over 24 hours, over 365 days a year! In stead of trying to present entertainment by the Navy, who only wants to attract some individuals with their flying skills, the good people of Gates want to put a stop to all the negative impacts, and misrepresentation of information put forth by the Navy.
In this time of economic woes, you would think the Navy would be working on ideas or projects to save the citizens from wasteful spending, and try to find ways to help the economic conditions facing the United States.
At least keep the impacts to the areas in Virginia that are already impacted, rather than spreading the negative impacts across 2 states. Thank you, Virginian Pilot for helping to get the truth out in your entire area of people who take the Virginian Pilot daily! Good Job!