Skydive Laconia?

[Pineedles]

It is so ironic that the most vocal opponent to Sky Dive Laconia, Bill Hemmel (Flyguy) gave the Noonans the platform to state their case. In Tom's last post he thanks the "creator of the thread". Very Sweet!

[robmac]

I for one am very happy that the Noonans want to bring a new and viable business to NH. It sounds like their perseverence is paying off and they may now have a fair shot at actually opening. Keep up the fight alot of people support your plan. Rob

[Seaplane Pilot]

"NEVER GIVE UP"! The Noonans should be an inspiration to everyone that is sick and tired of government (at any level) trying to control our lives. Keep up the great work!

[Shreddy]

Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot

"NEVER GIVE UP"! The Noonans should be an inspiration to everyone that is sick and tired of government (at any level) trying to control our lives. Keep up the great work!

Too bad the lady who has to suffer from Mayfew's Funeral Home got cutoff. She doesn't have a chance now without putting together a following. In any respects, I'm pretty excited for the Noonans and gladly look forward to giving them my business and hopefully next summer.

[dpg]

Originally Posted by Shreddy

Too bad the lady who has to suffer from Mayfew's Funeral Home got cutoff. She doesn't have a chance now without putting together a following. In any respects, I'm pretty excited for the Noonans and gladly look forward to giving them my business and hopefully next summer.

I believe this business in the beginning would be a fad and everyone would rush to jump out of a plane, specially lots of people following this thread. In time I feel the number of jumps at Laconia would drop off significantly. Maybe I'm wrong just my .02

[sa meredith]

Count me in for sure. It's on the Bucket List, and I'd love to scratch it off.
Maybe next summer????

[gtagrip]

I'm waiting to see if Mr. Hemmel will weigh in on this latest development.

[Steveo]

I bet Obama will bring this up as his job's stimulus plan in tonight's speech.

[fatlazyless]

While it sounds encouraging to supporters who want the Laconia Airport to be a home to a sky diver business, every issue like this always has two sides to it, and the Laconia Airport Authority hasn't made too many public comments on why they feel the way they do.

Hopefully, this latest new information in the long running saga will encourage the Laconia Airport Authority to be a little bit more open and public with their thinking on the proposed addition of sky-diving to their facility.

It's seems pretty obvious that the L.A.A., which has no regularly scheduled airline passenger flights, is very happy to welcome private passenger jets, but much less happy to welcome a sky diver business operation? How come .... and why is that?

[RLW]

Originally Posted by dpg

I believe this business in the beginning would be a fad and everyone would rush to jump out of a plane, specially lots of people following this thread. In time I feel the number of jumps at Laconia would drop off significantly. Maybe I'm wrong just my .02

You may just be right with your 2¢, but I'm hoping not. I have gone to visit 3 different fields in the past 1-1/2 years just to see how they operate with the divers and airplanes since this has been posted. Now I was at these 3 fields on weekends and only twice at each field. I found that they were VERY busy both with divers and planes coming and going and found that it was well organized without any problems. Now I'm older and never would try it, but found it very interesting to watch and I will continue to go and just watch. I spoke to several pilots/divers at each of the 3 fields and never once did I hear a bad word said about either group. I wish anyone out there the best when they try a new or existing business, as you all know we sure need some new economy to get this country going again. Like it has been said many times before, just my 2¢.

[robmac]

I agree with RLW,I don't think this proposed venture will be a flash in the pan. People in S.NH thought the same about Sky Ventures in Nashua. It has become a thriving business since opening its doors. I think that a business will flourish when owners have both a passion and love for what they are doing along with a sound business plan in place. With that said I think the Noonans will do well given the oportunity. I hope the powers that be in DC have clearer heads and a fair hearing is given.

[TheNoonans]

It's seems pretty obvious that the L.A.A., which has no regularly scheduled airline passenger flights, is very happy to welcome private passenger jets, but much less happy to welcome a sky diver business operation? How come .... and why is that?

Hi Less,

I don't think you'll ever see a member of the LAA post anything on here, but I think they did a pretty good job explaining from their perspective, why they don't want us here when they answered the ADO during their public comment period, they submitted "Summary Doc for FAA 3-30-11". I have a copy of it, it's a big file at 4mb, but I am happy to send you a copy, or I am sure you can get a copy at the airport from the manager.

It's a report compiled by the LAA, the experts on local topographical conditions, as Mr. Hemmel put it I believe........

The problem with their report is that none of them, literally NONE of them, have any background in aeronautical safety as it pertains to parachute operations. There opinions, as obtuse as they are, have no basis of content based on subject matter knowledge, education, practical application or personal first hand experience. But it reads well to the uninformed.

Remember when the LAA created that now famous (within the FAA) "safety committee" comprised of three members of the LAA that are neither pilots or parachutists or that had absolutely ZERO background experience in aeronautical safety studies as they pertain to parachute operations?

Remember when I asked the LAA to give me the aeronautical safety evaluation backgrounds of the Safety Committee and they had their lawyer send me a letter saying they were not legally obligated to provide me that information?

Well I do. I remember it well. And it is all documented and on it's way to the director of compliance in Washington, D.C. As is their obtuse report they submitted, and every other document that they generated that I have a copy of, including those private emails from the airport manager.

Back to that report, if you read it, you will see that they took that opportunity to go after me personally on page 7 of their report when they quoted me out of context from this forum and tried to paint me as someone who's "priority of responsibilities" as they put it, was not in line with theirs as it pertains to safety.

Well guess what? I have shown the FAA in Washington, DC my global resume that supports my statement that I am considered a subject matter expert on parachute operation safety protocols around the world.

When it's there turn to defend themselves, what can they show? That they sit around a table once a month and look for ways to keep aeronautical activities off the airfield?

They had their opportunity to work with us, to find a mutually beneficial resolution that everyone could agree on. Now we are past that point. Now it's full steam ahead with the FAA, now it's time for accountability.

Now it's going national. The national media is standing by and ready to go as soon as this is resolved. It doesn't take much background research to realize that the LAA and this process represent everything that is wrong with this nation. A small group of over privileged people in a position of power trying to distort local government and policies to satisfy their own agenda, that of keeping "outsiders" out and "insiders" in. And in that process actually PREVENTING new jobs and additional ECONOMIC STIMULUS from being brought to area.

As your store hours and your work hours scale back in November, ask yourself if you made enough money to comfortably get through the winter season, or if you would have preferred the opportunity to make more. This will now be the start of the THIRD winter that you could have ended your season with additional jobs and economic stimulus in your cash registers and your wallets.

When your next election roles around, I hope those of you that have helped bring this thread to 40,000 views remember what it is you are voting for, and who it is you are putting in office and thus onto the LAA.

Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,

Tom

[fatlazyless]

Landing on grass vs. landing on asphalt?

Just picture this; you come in for a landing with one of those directionalized parachute wing things on some good quality grass that is a little bit wet. Ok...it's time to assume the skydiver surfer position and slide on home, back to terra firma, and make a sliding landing, where you come in to land and do a slide-in as opposed to a running step-step step landing.....just like a surfboard on the wet slippery grass.

www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6862732 Wow...just look at that healthy green grass and picture yourself coming in for a surfer style surfboard landing, sliding across the grass, with a chute up overhead!


And, then picture yourself doing the same surfer style landing on black asphalt......ouch....just not the same type of landing!

[SteveA]

http://www.city.laconia.nh.us/index....rt-authority-2

"Current members are: Mayor Matthew Lahey (Laconia), Philip Daigneault (Belknap County Commissioner), Alice Boucher (Selectman, Gilford), Douglas Bartlett (At-Large/Laconia), Donald Flanders (At-Large/Laconia), Newbold LeRoy III (Vice Chair, At-Large/Laconia) Anthony Stracqualursi (At-Large/Laconia), Chris Tierney (Treasurer, At-Large/Gilford), Russ Dumais (At-Large/Gilford)."

If the "Russ Dumais" listed is the Russ Dumais that owns Airport Deli in Gilford I would be surprised that he wouldn't be in favor of more tourists driving by his store? Maybe a different guy?

[TheNoonans]

I gotta say Less, I love your enthusiasm!

Next time I am in the area, I promise you I'll get in touch with you and come up to Plymouth if you want to show me that great grass!

As for the asphalt though, in now going on 12 years and over 4000 skydives, I have yet to ever land on asphalt by accident. But believe it or not, we actually can land on asphalt and sometimes even plan to if we are on a demonstration jump and the most suitable landing area is the event's parking lot.

As I am also a professional demonstration jumper, I can tell the LAA first hand that when we jump into stadiums, the most complex of our demo jumps, that with the full blessing of the FAA, we list the stadium parking lots as alternate landing areas if turbulence over the stadium prevents someone from getting into it. The FAA signs off on it, so maybe the LAA might have a tough time if they went that route in an argument......lol

Here is a couple of photos of me landing in Lincoln Stadium last year for a Philadelphia Eagles fan appreciation night.

Note in the second photo, the orange flag, thats the target on the 50 yard line. We exited the airplane over Interstate 95 about a mile and a half north of the stadium over south Philly and despite these "non directional control, subject to wind drift" parachutes....lol, we managed to make it all the way to the stadium and land on the 50 yard line.

Good thing none of those pesky katabatic winds threw us off course.....lol

Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,

Tom

[SteveA]

Originally Posted by TheNoonans

As I am also a professional demonstration jumper, I can tell the LAA first hand that when we jump into stadiums, the most complex of our demo jumps, that with the full blessing of the FAA, we list the stadium parking lots as alternate landing areas if turbulence over the stadium prevents someone from getting into it. The FAA signs off on it, so maybe the LAA might have a tough time if they went that route in an argument......lol

Here is a couple of photos of me landing in Lincoln Stadium last year for a Philadelphia Eagles fan appreciation night.

Note in the second photo, the orange flag, thats the target on the 50 yard line. We exited the airplane over Interstate 95 about a mile and a half north of the stadium over south Philly and despite these "non directional control, subject to wind drift" parachutes....lol, we managed to make it all the way to the stadium and land on the 50 yard line.

Good thing none of those pesky katabatic winds threw us off course.....lol

Tom,

I don't know if you know or have heard of Dana Bowman. He is a very inspiring speaker, and I have hired him a number of times as a motivational speaker.

http://www.danabowman.com/

He has landed in some very tough spots for the events we contracted him for, Including a paved parking lot and beside a swimming pool in the courtyard of a hotel in Maryland.

When Mrs SteveA did her jump in Florida, they landed Exactly where the jump master had told us to wait for the "landing photo's".

The control the professionals have is amazing.

[dpg]

Tom,

First let me say I admit to not having read this whole thread but I can't help but wonder why not just move on and open a facility elsewhere where it's actually welcome (i think that's possible.) I kind of wonder why it so definitely HAS to be Laconia.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by dpg

Tom,

First let me say I admit to not having read this whole thread but I can't help but wonder why not just move on and open a facility elsewhere where it's actually welcome (i think that's possible.) I kind of wonder why it so definitely HAS to be Laconia.

What would you suggest as the next-best airport in the lakes region?

[dpg]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

What would you suggest as the next-best airport in the lakes region?

No clue the obvious answer is there isn't another - but you already knew that. The Noonans are from Florida, how about somewhere between here and Florida? I'm not against it, I could honestly care less I won't be jumping but have no issue with it opening either. Just an honest question with this kind of opposition I'd think there would be a back-up plan (location.)

[NoRegrets]

Have you seen the whitish WACO Bi-plane flying around the lake? My wife and I watched it fly around the lake with the distinctive radial engine all season long and we finally made the call and took the full lake tour. What a great experience. Everyone should do it. http://www.lakesbiplane.com/location.html

Anyway, my point is that ten's of thousands of people will see the parachutes and a percentage of them will tack action and try it. Go off the beaten path and your market shrinks to a core population base. I think the Laconia location is probably the best for population density for this business.

[Pineedles]

I would imagine that the Noonans did some marketing studies and found LAA to be a good airport to do business; And business is all about making money! Sorry to state the cold hard facts FLL and others, but that is what our economy is based on! To move to Plymouth or elsewhere, would waste their hard earned money put into that marketing study! I wish those that don't understand Marketing 101 would crack a book and learn something! You just don't ignore a study because someone says "NIMBY".

[robmac]

Very well said Pineedles

[fatlazyless]

Dont'cha just know that the green grass runway over in Plymouth is looking like a lot more soft landing than that black asphalt runway in Laconia!

Landing a skydiver on the unfriendly Laconia asphalt could be used as a metaphor to describe how the Laconia Airport Authority is thinking; unfriendly!


Green grass: Plymouth, NH, runway; think 'nice soft landing.'
www.airnav.com/airport/1p1
www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6869793


Black asphalt: Laconia, NH, runway; think 'bloody abrasions on your hands and knees and nose......ouch! ...... !'
www.laconiaairport.com/


It's so simple, and it will not be long before the skydivers all like to refer to Plymouth as "the green, green grass of home!"


If the walls down in Washington at the F.A.A had ears and could talk, you know what those F.A.A. walls would be saying? They say: "But, over at that little Plymouth Airport, their grass is just looking soooooooo green!"

..............

Both airports, Laconia and Plymouth, do have one thing in common; they both have a Wal-Mart for an abutter neighbor, but I think the Plymouth Wal-Mart would afford a much better view of the skydivers disembarking out their airborne airplane. If you want to see the skydivers all go "Exit-stage right" then the Plymouth Wal-Mart parking lot, way up atop a steep hilltop, would be the best spot! RV-er's and truckers use that parking lot like it was a rereational vehicle campground because of its' super mountain view, and to watch the birds of prey that soar down the Baker River valley on the thermal air currents.

[lawn psycho]

Originally Posted by TheNoonans

snip.... A small group of over privileged people in a position of power trying to distort local government and policies to satisfy their own agenda, that of keeping "outsiders" out and "insiders" in. snip.....
Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,

Tom

Tom, OMFG you have no idea how much of an understatement this was. It's pervasive around the lake unfortunately.

I have a $120k rebuilt shoulder so my chances of doing a jump are long gone or else I'd be one of your first paying customers

What I love the most about this issue is how they issues are dealt with with data and factual evidence, not perception. So many people out their write opinions and cash check that their mouths can cash....

Rock on Tom!