The Low Altitude Airway Structure Threatens My Satellite Dish

As an Alameda native, who moved here in 1990, I have always placed blind, indeed purblind, confidence in the Alameda Planning Board.

Even if they seemingly violate the public trust, I am certain that at least someone, somewhere, somehow is benefiting by the betrayal.

Hitherto, my faith was neither shaken nor stirred; even when the Planning Board conspired to sandwich houses so tightly together that they actually shared the same bathroom windows.

And, I agree; they should not allow the Safeway Gas Station to sell beer after 10 p.m.

As my Uncle Cusper used to say, “If you ain’t got enough beer in you by ten o-clock at night, it’s your own damn fault; you should have rolled out of bed before noon.”

But now a fissure has appeared in my trust.

As a retired Naval Aviator and Aviation Safety Officer I wonder what that Board Member had in mind when he or she said that the 42-foot bell tower at the In-N-Out Hamburger Emporium “might interfere with local airplane traffic.”

Yipers!

My condo measures 42-feet above ground level; should I be worried about local airplanes barnstorming my Franklin Mint Collection?

The Whip Antenna on my Gremlin GT Station Wagon is nearly 42 feet high; should I be worried about inferring with civil aviation?

Is my Satellite Dish safe?

Aside from Drug Haulers, Cruise Missiles, Crop Dusters and Asiana Flight 214, rarely does any pilot with a functioning altimeter, a BAC less than 0.08 or a window in the cockpit, get down to 42 feet.

Pilots who fly this low rarely get to brag about it except in that Great Ready Room in the Sky.

Was this Board Member joshing with us?

Does he or she have a daytime job as a Stunt Pilot?

Is he or she Aerial Spraying for the Mediterranean Fruit Fly or the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter?

Sincerely,

Jeffrey R Smith

On the Third Floor and Possibly in the Airway Structure