A new helicopter company in White Rock is offering people a chance to see the spectacular waterfront from the air.
But what might sound like a great day out for some is not great for those that live there. Residents say the noise is ruining their beachfront neighbourhood.
“It’s unfair you know, I want to sit on my deck, I want to open my sliding windows. I want to be able to watch television not on 60 in my living room,” said Jill Prins, who’s lived in the neighbourhood for 20 years.
TRK helicopters is offering sightseeing tours over Semiahmoo Bay every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. An eight minute ride costs $55 dollars.
The company has a deal with the Semiahmoo First Nation to launch and land from their property – but residents say the noise is too much.
Residents are also concerned about a nearby estuary and how the noise might be affecting it.
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“I don’t think there is anything, perhaps short of explosions, that are as frightening to wildlife as low flying helicopters.,” retired biologist Ron Kistritz said. “I doubt very much the wildlife will get use to this type of noise impact.”
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The owner of the helicopter company told Global News by phone that what he is doing is legal, as he has a licence to operate the sightseeing tours, and he plans to continue until the end of august and possibly into the fall.
He says the helicopter isn’t louder than any other aircraft, but says that hasn’t stop people from threatening his pilots.
But not everyone in the neighbourhood is upset about the noise.
“I just live up the road it’s not bad, we come down here all the time. My little baby boy is sleeping, he’s not woken up by it,” one resident said.
“Anytime I’m here there are always planes flying overhead so it’s never bothered me,” said another.
But White Rock’s mayor is also concerned about noise levels.
“To the owners’ credit he changed the route somewhat but it’s still taking off and landing in populated areas,” White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin said.
“If it were a hospital or a coast guard station you could see it but not here, no.”
He says while the First Nation likely doesn’t want to give up the revenue it’s making from the helicopter company – he hopes they will be a good neighbour and do exactly that.
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