Here is the article from WHT:

http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2008/03/25/local/local01.txt

Here is a letter written by Rell M. Woodward, MD, President Ocean View Community Development Corp.

2 April, 2008

Colonel John J Torres, commander Hickam AFB,

There has been incredible concern among residents and community
leaders in Ocean View since the latest “bombshell” about the air
force's plans was dropped on us. We were frankly incredulous when we
read the article in West Hawaii Today stating that the USAF is
planning on flying C-17's at 200-300 feet above ground level over the
populated areas of Ocean View, Waimea, and Honoka`a. It had been our
impression that the military was supposed to protect the country, not
put it's citizens at risk by conducting potentially dangerous training
exercises over populated areas.

The newspaper article and a very pertinent letter to the editor are
below.

I have heard from many people and it seems that nobody is supportive
of the air force's plans. The reactions in Ocean View range from
shocked surprise to horror to "who is in charge of this idiocy".

The obvious concerns are safety and noise. As Frank Carvelli said in
his letter to the editor "As a pilot myself, I can tell you that if you
have an emergency at 300 ft. above ground level you are not likely to
recover from it. The noise and dangers are too much to put up with. The
Pilots are some of the best, but there are some I would not trust to fly
a kite after watching the touch and go flights at Kona
airport." Also, we occasionally have winds in our area that approach
hurricane strength. I can't imagine even the most insane pilot flying a
fuel loaded plane just slightly smaller than a 747 over a populated area
at 200 ft. above ground level in those conditions. We have an estimated
5,700 residents in Ocean View as of the last dwelling survey published
in West Hawaii Today in 2006. There is a lot of unoccupied land on this
island, so why put the citizens of Ocean View, Honoka`a, and Waimea at
risk if there is a mishap or mechanical failure.

We are very supportive of our troops and understand the need for
training, but the plan devised by the USAF to fly C-17's over the
populated areas of Waimea, Honoka`a, and Ocean View at 200-300 ft. above
ground level is sheer lunacy. If this plan is pursued by the USAF, count
on a fire-storm of opposition. If and when public meetings are held for
the environmental assessment, we can assure you that the community will
be out in force.


Rell M. Woodward, MD, President Ocean View Community Development Corp.
PO Box 7029, Ocean View, HI 96737

Ken Wicks, President Ka`u Chamber of Commerce

Bruce Coates, President Ocean View Community Association

cc: Defense Sec. Gates, US Senators Inouye and Akaka, US Rep. Hirono,
Gov. Lingle, State Sen. Kokubun, State Rep. Herkes, Mayor Harry Kim, All
members of the Hawaii County Council

Friday, April 4, 2008 9:48 AM HST
Low-altitude flight route formally being proposed'

The 15th Airlift Wing will soon propose formalizing a military training route (MTR) that has been in use for Air Force and Air National Guard training for 22 years. The action would dramatically decrease the land area over which training missions are flown, and cut noise impact by 30 percent.

This training affords air crews experience in low-altitude navigation in mountainous terrain and aerial delivery operations to the drop zone within the Pohakuloa Training Area; all of which are critical skills as the 15th Airlift Wing and HIANG are increasingly called upon to deliver humanitarian aid throughout the Pacific and the world. Creating and formally publishing the proposed MTR will increase flight safety for all aviators -- general, commercial and military -- by specifying when C-17s would be in the area and the radio frequencies they would be using while on the MTR. This MTR would lessen noise impact by 30 percent with an airspeed increase to 300-350 knots over a given point, with no change in noise level.

The C-17s, 20 percent smaller than a 747, would be flying no lower than 300 feet over unpopulated areas and no lower than 2,000 feet over populated areas. The proposed MTR avoids Captain Cook, Ocean View, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In fact, the formalized MTR would reduce the area where C-17s now operate by more than 97 percent -- from 14,400 square miles to less than 500 square miles. The MTR flying corridor would range from four to seven miles wide and would be approximately 70 miles long, again, while avoiding populated and noise-sensitive areas.

The proposed MTR route will be released through a Draft Environmental Assessment and the public will be able to view the plan and make comments. The dates and times of these meetings will be publicized in local newspapers.

The draft Environmental Assessment will also be available at local public libraries for a 30-day comment period.

An electronic version of the draft EA will also be posted on the Hickam AFB public Web site: http://www2.hickam.af.mil when available.

Col. John J. Torres, USAF

Commander, 15th Airlift Wing

800 Scott Circle E

Hickam Air Force Base, HI 96853