Solution sought for small plane noise

Bob Sanders said he chose to live in the Trigger Gap area because it’s natural area near the Kings River surrounded by mountains. But since the Recreational Aircraft Foundation (RAF) built the Trigger Gap Airstrip on Pension Mountain, Sanders said they have been bothered by more and more loud, low-flying aircraft.

“One of the reasons we moved there was for the peace and quiet,” Sanders said. “We feel like they have taken something that wasn’t theirs, that peace and quiet.”

When RAF announced plans to build the airstrip on land owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), RAF stated that they built the airstrip so that people could fly in to land and enjoy the area, hike, canoe, camp and picnic. Sanders said they were curious about that explanation because the Berryville airport is only a few miles away.

“Now we know that story has some inconsistencies,” Sanders said. “Ever since the airstrip opened, we have had more and more loud, low-flying aircraft here. It has become a huge source of noise pollution. Many of these planes don’t even land. They just fly around in circles at low altitude making a bunch of noise. Other pilots are using it as a practice field. They land and then immediately take off again, then circle around with their engine roaring and land again, over and over.”

Sanders said it can be difficult for people sitting outside to even have a conversation. He said that on nice days, the noise starts at about 8 a.m., lasts all day and is almost constant.

“We understand that the RAF is a source of revenue for the TNC, but we are curious why the TNC would want to partner with an organization that produces so much carbon dioxide and noise pollution,” Sanders said. “We also have noticed that we don’t see as many eagles as we used to. In fact, there are almost none in this area.”

Sanders has been in contact with several representatives of the RAF regarding his concerns, including Harper Goodwin, a liaison for RAF who said he has spoken to Sanders on several occasions.

“We want to be good neighbors and are very aware of his concerns and doing what we can to address them,” Goodwin said. “Bob has been invited to functions at the airfield two or three times but has chosen not to come. I have never heard of a single complaint from anyone other than Bob Sanders. All of the neighbors I have talked to on Pension Mountain are enthusiastic about the airfield.”

Goodwin said he feels that most of the traffic that concerns Sanders is local. Goodwin said that more than once, they have spoken to the area flight schools and flying clubs making them aware of the noise sensitivity.

“However, one can only say the same thing so many times,” Goodwin said. “As we have seen in the past year-and-a-half with the pandemic, you can make requests or suggestions, but some folks are going to do what they are going to do anyway. I know we have made progress and Bob has agreed with me on that. On the RAF website, the Trigger Gap pilot briefing talks specifically about noise abatement procedures and noise sensitive areas surrounding the airstrip are clearly marked.”

Goodwin said he has tried to track down aircrafts that Sanders has complained about several times, but there is no one manning the airstrip. If Sanders cannot provide an aircraft number, which can be hard to see, it is difficult for the RAF to respond.

“We are working on a system that collects data on who and what airplanes are using the airfield,” Goodwin said. “This would be helpful in being able to identify a problem. Also, I can assure you I would make an effort to contact that individual.”

Goodwin points out that the Trigger Gap Airfield is on private property. It could have been used for a hog farm, raising chickens, a gun club, a dirt bike track or other uses that might raise objections from neighbors.

One of the biggest sources of sediment pollution in the Kings River is people driving on dirt roads. The entire area is seeing more traffic and public use, particularly the Kings River.

“I suppose you can take almost any hobby and find something that impacts something else,” Goodwin said. “TNC is very proud of and enthusiastic about the airstrip. The Arkansas Nature Conservancy wants people to utilize their property in the right way. They don’t want dirt bikes impacting roads and rivers, as it impacts their efforts towards streambank stabilization.

“I think they recognize that what we are doing has a very low impact. TNC is happy people are utilizing their property in a way that doesn’t negatively affect the river. And it doesn’t take a lot of fuel. Most of these airplanes don’t burn that much fuel. We are all cognizant of fuel usage. It costs money.”

The airfield was built in 2016. In Goodwin’s estimation, during that time the traffic on Hwy. 221 has increased ten-fold. On the Kings River, which runs past his house, boating traffic has also increased significantly. There is more traffic in the Wildlife Management Area as well.

“This, of course, brings revenue and recognition to our area, but also noise and litter,” Goodwin said. “Things change.”

Goodwin said they are sensitive to the concerns of Sanders, and very sympathetic to his position. There are several flying clubs in the Northwest Arkansas area, and Goodwin said they have been asked to limit their flying in and out of there. They have also talked to the flying school.

“I know we are making progress in making the local people aware of the noise issue,” Goodwin said. “It is getting better. We are a volunteer organization and when we get this new system up and running the way we hope, then we should be able to see the traffic that comes and goes. If we have someone who we feel is not abiding by our principles, the individual will be contacted and educated that we would prefer Trigger Gap not be used for repeated takeoffs and landings. It is primarily for people to come in, enjoy the pavilion, build a fire, camp out, or contact one of the local river services to go floating.”

Goodwin said that like other activities, aviation around here has increased. And the area is rural, so some planes fly lower than they should.

“I’m not denying there are occasional problems, but the noise is very sporadic,” he said.

Sanders said pilots are not always abiding by the 500-ft. rule.

“You have to be five hundred feet away from any building or person unless taking off and landing,” Sanders said. “It is not unusual for them to go over my house at a couple hundred feet off the ground. Once they built this thing, they didn’t have any control.

“There are good ones and bad ones. Some pilots coast in and land and take off quietly. Others just circle around and around and around. This goes on all day long. It doesn’t matter what day of the week. RAF claims they are going to try to do something. It will get better for a little while and then just go back to the same thing. The RAF people may not know how bad it is because they don’t live there.”