Originally Posted by aviate1138
My two penn'wth. Do not fly circuits. Be stingy and don't allow anyone access for at least the first year. If you hear rumblings, offer the whinger/s a local flight on a nice calm day. Also have your "Cancer Fund" tin visible. Make every approach a glide one. [If possible].
Also fly during the week rather than weekends [again if possible].
Happy flying! PS Operate the quietest aircraft you can!
All very good advice,
In my case I approached the local equestrian centre and told them what I was doing and put an avoidance area around it, I told them if they had concerns to come and talk to me right away.
I also run an open day once a year for the hospice, it generated almost 3000 euro in 2008 and got local press coverage,see
HERE this helps build up local confidence and makes the airfield a little bit more "approachable" by the locals, I offer them the R/H seat anytime I go flying. Personal airstrips can look like a "rich boy's" pastime, when the locals can come and see that you are just an ordinary chap it tends to make them more comfortable.
The one thing I have found that could be problematic for some, my strip is now used as a "waypoint" by a lot of GA traffic and it can tend to be noisy, especially choppers that fly overhead at 500 feet, generally directly overhead the equestrian centre too !... I try and get the reg and inform the owner accordingly. I will paint the A/G frequency on the hangar roof this year and inform others of the situation.
There is a lot of things to consider, however having the facility at my back door does allow for some lovely summer evening flying.