– One of the best things about living here is that it is quiet around us. It is an unbeatable value. Then it should just be crushed in that way here. Anne-Joril Bratlie Haugland and her family moved home from Oslo a few years ago and built their dream house a few kilometers from the center of Nordfjordeid. Fjords and mountains, family and good jobs lure them home. But also still. Now the idyll may be about to burst. A couple of hundred meters from the housing estate, there are plans for a helicopter landing pad. What Haugland and many other neighbors fear most is noise from early morning until well into the evening. It is about 200 meters from the helicopter landing pad to the residential area Løkjastranda outside Nordfjordeid. According to a noise report from the helicopter company, the nearest residential areas will receive noise from 52 to 62 decibels. Then the helicopter ride is as loud as if someone is standing and talking to you. Sintef points out that aircraft noise is a frequency content that goes straight to the ear’s most sensitive area, and is easy to distinguish from other background noise. Fjordabladet has reported on the case previously. Several disputes There have also been disputes in other places about helicopter tourism. In Eidfjord, the politicians turned around and said no to helicopter flights after major protests from cabin owners and tourism. Further south, the Nature Conservancy would like to have a helicopter refusal over the tourist magnets Preikestolen and Lysefjorden. Will fly from morning to evening It is Fjord helikopter AS that will operate the heliport in an industrial area near the housing estate. In addition to tourist flights, the company will take on power line missions. The company wants permission for 180 aircraft movements per week and 3,300 aircraft movements annually. Approach and departure are counted as two movements. The company will fly from morning to 9.30pm on weekdays, on weekends the flight will end at 8pm. – I fully understand that people are skeptical, and do not necessarily want a helicopter landing pad nearby, says daily manager Morten Wangen. Cruise ship on its way out of Nordfjordeid. Photo: Asgeir Heimdal Reksnes / news Wangen says the real number of flights “will probably be lower” than the application. This year, nearly 80 cruise ships will come to Nordfjordeid. In terms of experience, the company flies between two and six trips per boat. Wangen adds that the company will not necessarily fly on every call. – I think the total noise picture should be completely tolerable. Mayor positive for helicopter Residents who protest do not get much support from City mayor Gunnar Silden (V). The dilemma is to say yes to activity and business, versus the protests about noise from the neighbourhood. – Based on the professional noise report from the applicant, it appears that there will not be too much noise. He nevertheless understands the neighbors’ skepticism. Therefore, he sees himself conducting a “trial year”, and an evaluation afterwards. Wangen says the company is taking measures to reduce noise, such as approach routes, and to fly as much as possible during the day. For tourist flights, they use helicopters with a lower noise level. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority will decide the matter in May. The municipality is only a hearing body, but the answer “will be given great importance”, says the inspectorate to news. Start signature campaign Haugland and neighbors in the village of Haugen have collected over 150 signatures. Steven Johnsen is one of those who have signed: – It’s a type of industry I can’t get behind. Noise is probably what we will notice the most. They are also worried about emissions from the helicopters and the consequences for nature and animals in the area. Haugland does not want helicopter tourism at all, and questions what the local community should get from the cruise industry. – Tourists can go on tourist trails, cycle, row, paddle, ride and ski. That’s great, and that has to be enough. They don’t need a helicopter flight. Anne-Joril Bratlie Haugland and her neighbor Steven Johnsen both live in the housing estate, which could have a helicopter landing pad nearby. Photo: Benedikte Grov / news
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Move home to stilla – now she can get helicopter traffic close to the house – news Vestland
