Help to Stop Disrespectful Air Tourism
For more than 20 years, Kauai residents have tried to persuade the air tourism industry to control the problem of disrespectful air tourism on Kauai. But during that time, tour helicopters - and more recently, biplanes, fixed wing aircraft and ultralights - have continued to conduct and expand their noisy activities over neighborhoods, parks and camping areas. 20 years of community efforts to engage the air tourism to “fly neighborly” have been completely unsuccessful.
A new group has formed to address the worsening problem. Stop Disrespectful Air Tourism! (STOP-DAT!) is a coalition of Kauai citizens and organizations that believe that air tourism should respect residents. The group does not oppose air tourism; but it believes that air tours should not, and need not, create noise over residential neighborhoods, sensitive environmental areas, and cultural sites.
The group’s objective is the creation of mandatory, enforceable rules, for all types of tour aircraft, that will require air tours to stay away from neighborhoods and sensitive environmental and cultural sites. It also wants all air tours to comply with minimum altitude regulations and to observe “no fly” Sundays and holidays.