— from Tony Simpson, Airport Manager —
A group of private, non-commercial but highly experienced skydivers asked if they could skydive at the Orcas Island Airport in Eastsound. While this is not something we normally receive requests for, the commissioners considered the request and decided to permit this private operation of limited duration.
In advance of their beginning operations, the Airport Manager discussed the noise sensitivity of our community and the segregation of operations from regular airport traffic. To maximize safety and minimize impact to normal flight operations, the landing zone was located on Port property on the West side of the airport that adjoins Seaview Street. The Port has received a very limited number of complaints and inquiries about the skydiving.
Early operations on Wednesday identified some additional noise concerns and a handful of noise complaints were received. The airport manager addressed those concerns to the helicopter pilot and asked them to adjust their flight patterns to reduce the extent of noise impacts to the community and they hope that the modifications have reduced noise impacts.
Additional concerns or noise complaints should be directed to the Airport Manager, Tony Simpson, at 360-376-5285 or orcasairport@rockisland.com.
The skydiving operations will continue daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (at the latest) through Friday evening. If you would like to watch the skydivers, visitors are welcome at the Airport terminal and the covered shelter at the North end of the parking lot that serves the terminal.
And who are these people and why Orcas? Is this related to a military exercise?
Gretchen, the organisers were from Washington and the lead owns a place near Roche Harbor…As a veteran, I can tell you there was nothing military about this group…mostly free spirits and parents of kids….nice people
How wonderful that these people want to see Orcas from a different vantage point. Having flown a helicopter over Orcas it is indeed a very special view. Hopefully, these people will feel welcomed by the kindness and hospitality that I have experienced from most islanders.
Hah, in a time of overabundant domestic repression, of ICE agents descending on communities and Congressmen bought off by the military contractors maybe the Port could give us suspicious folk some warning:
This is the second time one of these after the fact operations has occurred during the last year l
I am sure some security conscious individuals seeing four parachutists descend on a airstrip unannounced, as I d8d the other morning, might decide to enquire with their second amendment rights.
Later, they can say, “I felt threatened/” Rhis strategy seems to work well for the police.
And so, did SanJuan Island first refuse these fine property owning folk?
Next time, maybe let the community know, ahead of time.
I second what Joseph Murphy said; letting the public know beforehand, if possible, would put us all more at ease when we see a gunmetal grey-black helicopter flying and landing again and again. It spooked me out, I must admit; and I asked this on my phone call with Tony, who was happy to answer my questions, and said it had been in the paper.
But Joseph brings up a more pertinent issue I had not considered: ICE and other domestic repressions that are going on, and how frightening this prospect this is to our community. This makes even more of a case for advance Public Notice.
I too wondered, why not San Juan Island. Maybe they skydived there too.
I was surprised to see them at first, and I admit, slightly alarmed, but honestly, once we knew it was safe, my children and I were delighted to see this right here on Orcas. It was exciting and if they do it again, we will probably go get a closer look at it. I wouldn’t want the helicopter noise every day, but for special events it is no problem for me.