The number of helicopters over Buccleuch has increased substantially since the Ultimate Heliport between Buccleuch and Midrand was built. Residents in the north-west part of Buccleuch are worst affected and for some residents, especially those in the heliport's North-South landing/takeoff flightpath, the noise levels can be intolerable.
While some helicopter noise is derived from SAPS, emergency and ‘Tracker’-type flights, most noise seems to be a direct result of movements into and out of the Heliport.
A BRA team led by Steven Freemantle has been working on the problem. Below is a brief update of the Team’s progress to try find a lasting solution.

A. Legal standing and rights

1. Our team has been getting a better understanding of the civil aviation rules and standard operating procedures for helicopters flying above urban areas, as well as our residents’ rights, legal standing and avenues for recourse.
2. We have requested information about the licensing conditions for Ultimate Heliport, confirmation that all necessary legal steps were followed in establishing the heliport, and copies of documentation such as environmental impact studies etc. 

B. SA Civil Aviation Authority

1. We've raised our concerns with the head of the SA Civil Aviation Authority and requested their intervention. Our request cited concerns around safety, noise, and human rights.
2. In response to our request the Director of the SACAA has assembled a Team led by their Executive: Aviation Infrastructure to investigate.
3. The SACAA Executive has confirmed that his secretary is working on getting all role-players together to meet with us next week, including representatives from the City of Johannesburg.
4. The SACAA provided inspectors to conduct noise level tests above Buccleuch (see C.4).

C. Ultimate Heliport

1. We have engaged extensively with the Director and Chief Pilot of Ultimate Heliport. He has been receptive and responsive.
2. Together with a number of residents we have been compiling date and time reports of offending helicopter movements, which are being shared with Ultimate.
3. Ultimate used our noise reports to identify problematic flights and engage with pilots. Since raising the issues there has been some reduction in offences.
4. To better understand the problem a series of noise-testing flights were conducted over Buccleuch. The flights were conducted by Ultimate Heliport and SA Civil Aviation Authority inspectors, with our participation.
5. Another meeting with Ultimate’s Director is being arranged to discuss next steps.

D. Grand Central Airport

1. Ultimate Heliport falls within airspace controlled by Grand Central Airport.
2. We had a productive meeting with the CEO of Grand Central Airport.
3. Grand Central indicated they would use our inputs and concerns in their engagements with Ultimate Heliport.

E. Findings
Our research and engagements thus far indicate that possible solutions may include:

1. All flights to and from Ultimate have to be reported to Grand Central. It may be possible to disallow any unnecessary flights over Buccleuch. For example, training and maintenance-testing flights can be redirected away from our airspace and 'through-flights' could be routed around Buccleuch.
2. Get Ultimate to change their approach paths from a North-South axis (that goes over Buccleuch), to an East-West direction that will bypass our borders. (There are practical obstacles to this proposal including the design of the heliport, highways, large advertising boards and powerlines.)
3. There is limited potential to get helicopters to fly at higher altitudes above Buccleuch. By law they have to fly below the altitudes reserved for fixed wing planes, and their maximum altitudes are impacted by our proximity to OR Tambo International Airport and Grand Central.

However, it seems a lot of the noise over Buccleuch is caused by helicopters descending into / ascending from Ultimate Heliport. Helicopters typically ascend / descend at an angle, which means they are not at maximum altitude when above Buccleuch.
It may be possible to require helicopters to ascend/descend vertically above Ultimate and not at an angle over Buccleuch.

Our BRA Team will continue to work on the problem, including further engagements with the SACAA, Ultimate Heliport, and Grand Central. We are also investigating other legal remedies.
The Team will provide further feedback as and when we have useful information to share.

Sincerely
Buccleuch Residents and Ratepayers Association