LETTER: Tracking Growler flights? Let it go

Posted

I can only find fault in how Kathleen Waldron is attacking the perceived problem with the ill-named electronic surveillance/electronic jamming F-18 airplanes practicing from North Whidbey.

Her methodology might sound possible to some, but, in fact, it’s not. The information that she claims she will collect can’t be done by her amateur guessed estimates of direction of flight, certainly not elevation and with some app that she’s found on the web that is going to give any semblance of the [decibel] rating that she thinks is driving her to abstraction.

On what credentials or training does she base her ability to present her “gathered information” as any kind of fact-based content?

I was working all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday in my front yard in Port Ludlow. I work outside all the time there. My place is right on the water, without any obstruction at all between my place and almost the entire west side of Whidbey Island.

During that time I heard likely well over a dozen commercial aircraft flying overhead, many helicopters from the Coast Guard, LifeFlight and even a couple of private helicopters and many private and commercial float planes, but not even a rumble from Whidbey Island.

Who’s to say that Ms. Waldron isn’t confused by these sounds that are far, far more prevalent than any possible “Growler” sounds.

This whole issue is so overblown by some in PT and some surrounding areas. I’ve asked many people who live in PT and on Marrowstone if they hear or are bothered by the “noise” from the “Growlers,” and not a one has said that they were bothered. Let it go.

ROSS BUDDEN

Port Ludlow