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Edwards: Planes and now helicopters disrupting home life near Superstitions

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Other aircraft are putting our lives in danger. You all have seen the helicopters flying over and you think it is the military. I can tell you that the majority of aircraft that are flying over you are helicopters from the Boeing helicopter plant.

When you see the big double-prop helicopter and a small aircraft flying behind with technicians are testing that helicopter.

Did you hear that testing really makes me feel good that they’re using my home, your home our way of life to test helicopters? They have hundreds of miles north with no homes or business — just open land. They do not need to “test” fly over our homes. Why put our lives in danger?

Yes, Boeing aircraft is a multi-billion-dollar industry and Boeing claims they bring lots of finances into our area to the Valley. Hey, my taxes do not reflect that and I know yours do not as well. But they do not have to fly over our homes, our businesses, our way of life; they can fly north and seeing nobody but the ATVs and the boaters at Saguaro Lake. Their money is not worth our way of life.

How do I know about these aircraft? I have made personal phone calls to Boeing. I have talked to Mark Gaspers. I explained to Mark where I live an my way of life. I explained to him I was not happy with Boeing using my way of life, putting my life in danger along with my other friends and neighbors. That they can fly over other areas not over our homes.

Mark was very good and very apologetic and I can tell you it has been several months. Then a high two-prop helicopter did maneuvers directly over my home; the noise level was unbearable. My big concern was my family’s safety.

Yes, there are other helicopters that are flying over; one is the National Guard. National Guard has a great spokesman, David Nunn. David is very good at finding out what helicopter was flying over your homes; he’s an awesome representative of men and women in uniform. The few times I’ve called David he’s been very apologetic and got things squared away immediately.

Those aircraft can fly lots of places but not over our homes putting our lives in danger.

Unfortunately out here in the beautiful Superstition Wilderness foothills, the flight schools and Boeing have started to show up. They will continue to be here because it keeps Mesa’s residents happy.

Take a few minutes to make a phone call and email. Contact your Pinal County supervisor, the mayor of Apache Junction, your state senator — anybody you can think of to tell them how unhappy you are if they’re using your way of life to improve their way of life and putting you in danger.

You didn’t come here to see aircraft shows; you came here to see the buzzards flying, lizards, quail calling, enjoying the beautiful Superstition Mountains and foothills area.

Here is contact information for Superstition Mountain homeowners:

  • Falcon Field Airport: Concerns about aircraft noise and safety can be shared with the city at apps.mesaaz.gov/FalconField/Comments or by calling the airport comment line at 480-644-6647.
  • Flight Schools at Falcon Field include Classic Air Aviation, 602-574-5376; ATP Flight School, 904-595-7950; Falcon Executive Aviation Inc., 800-237-2359; and CAE Phoenix, 480-948-4515.
  • Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport: 480-929-7902.
  • Flight schools at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport include AeroGuard Flight Training Center, 623-233-1630; UND Aerospace Foundation Flight Training Center, 480-988-8117; ATP Flight School, 904-595-7950; Aviation Performance Solutions, 480-279-1881; and Fighter Combat International, 866-359-4273.

Remember: Brian Sexton, in charge of community engagement at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, and Steve Edwards will be speaking at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the ADOBE Membership meeting at the Best Western Hotel, 8333 E Sunrise Sky Drive in Gold Canyon.

Editor’s note: Steve Edwards is a resident of Queen Valley and was appointed as chairperson of the Association for the Development of a Better Environment’s air traffic control committee.