A bunch o' stuff here in the US, Vicki. We've played a role in
several National Park Service overflight programs and have even done
some related studies in conjunction with Michigan State University.
There are tourist overflight restrictions related to Grand Canyon. No
tourist overflights are currently allowed in Rocky Mtn. National
Park. And others, such as in Hawaii, are currently under review.
Other park overflights, particularly in what's considered the "jewel"
parks are always considering ways to curb the problem.
On a related subject, we are happy to have played a major role in
having the "natural soundscape" designated as a "resource" within the
parks as part of Director's Order 47 that was implemented in the year
2000. That means that the the biophony must be regarded as other
natural resources and thus protected. It's a great concept and one
that has unfortunately not had a terrific amount of support from our
current administration, whose stated goal is privatization of many of
the traditional park functions and services. As a matter of fact, my
recent book, "Wild Soundscapes: Discovering the Voice of the Natural
World," was originally written for the educational ranger staff of
the park service to introduce visitors to the wonders of the natural
soundscape and to help set noise policies such as overflights,
jet-skis and snowmobiles, among other elements of anthrophony.
All the best,
Bernie Krause
Wild Sanctuary, Inc.
P. O. Box 536
Glen Ellen, California 95442-0536
Tel: (707) 996-6677
Fax: (707) 996-0280
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
>In Australia there are no clear cut regulations for control of joy flight
>operators who fly over our national parks. There have even been joy fligh=
ts
>using superseded military jet aircraft, where paying customers are zoomed
>along at supersonic speed to within 150 metres of the ground, with mock
>attacks on 'targets' such as unsuspecting park visitors who are camped on
>lonely mountain tops of the Blue Mountains National Park, west of Sydney,
>NSW.
>
>And there is the all-pervading sound of helicopters on joy flights, with
>only a voluntary 'Fly Neighbourly Agreement' to keep the choppers above 30=
0
>metres. Capertee Valley where I live, adjoins the Blue Mountains National
>Park, and we are now looking at ways to stop a new helicopter joy flight
>operator from starting up in our own scenic area. Currently there is NIL
>background ambience in this valley for a large percentage of the time,
>which makes it heaven for the wildlife sound recordist of course.
>
>So I am wondering if any readers from countries that might have a more
>enlightened legislation as regards aircraft noise, could let me know just
>what their country's policy is? I would like to start lobbying our
>politicions on noise issues such as these joy flights, and I'm looking for
>good angles.
>
>Any ideas anyone? Many thanks,
>
>Vicki Powys
>Capertee Valley
>New South Wales
>Australia
>
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
--
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
|