terriks- your solution post made me laugh. My nephew flew from Seatle to LA area and back. He went through normal metal detectors and that was it. I guess it depends on where you go. I think the idea about what to wear is a smart one and I agree that it would be more comfortable too. I wonder if the pins in my toes from my bunionectomy 20yrs ago would cause a second look if I went through the scanner?? I guess they could see the old scars on my toes and see that they have been there a while. I too wonder about the pilots and crew having to go through security all of the time. Of course if I were a bad person and knew they did not have to be screened I would look at using them to carry out my evil doings. I did ask my 13yr old about being patted down and she was not as freaked as I thought she would be. She said she was not thrilled at the thought but did at least understand why they have to do it. She did think that frisking a baby was weird but again, understood the need. I still feel bad for the people who have to do the frisking. I am sure when they first started their careers they did not think this would become such a common part of their jobs. But it also gives them lots of stuff to talk about at the dinner table.

DH says the runway is long enough for small jets at 4000 feet. Jets probably won't fly over your house often; some may. Piston-engine planes will be flying a pattern over your house at times; it depends how tight a pattern they fly. Twin engines will not be flying very tight. Here's some info on the airport. Note the noise-abatement part at the bottom. Good luck! DH says if you're worried about engine noise you should probably look elsewhere; there's going to be some. Chandler Municipal (CHD) CHANDLER, AZ Publicly Owned, Public Use 3.0 mi. SE of city. N33-16.15 W111-48.67 Mag Var: 12 deg E Phone: 480-782-3540 Fax: 480-782-3541 www.chandleraz.org/airport/airport2.htm Guy.lennon@ci.chd.az.us FBO/Facility/Fuel Information Airport Diagram Taxi Diagram Kneeboard Format Member Comments US Terminal Procedures ASF Accident Reports Return To Directory Search Exit Directory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Navaids: Type: ID: Freq: Radial: Distance: VOR IWA 113.3 243 8.30 mi. NDB CHD 407 On Field Communication Freqs: Unicom - 122.95 TWR - 126.1 N,W TWR - 133.1 E,S GND - 124.4 CTAF - 126.1 FSS - PRESCOTT 122.4 122.6 Approach Freqs: Phoenix:123.7 ; WX Contact: AWOS 128.325 480-814-9952; ATIS 128.325 ; FSS: PRESCOTT 866-226-3763 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elevation: 1243 MSL Hours: 8 am to 5 pm Tower Hours: 6 am to 9 pm Fees: Tiedown Fee; Hangar Fee Charts: PHOENIX; L4 Traffic Pattern: Light Aircraft: 2200 MSL;Multiengine Aircraft: 2400 MSL;Nonturbine Aircraft: 2200 MSL;Turbine Aircraft: 2400 MSL;Rotorcraft: 1800 MSL; Runways: 4L-22R: 4401X75; asphalt; PCL; trees ry 4L 4R-22L: 4870X75; asphalt; PCL; H1: 100X100; concrete; ; Right traffic runway(s): 22R; 04R; Approaches: VOR; NDB; GPS RNAV; Lights: SS to SR 126.1 Med - 3 clicks in 5 secs. Notes: Intensive Flight Training Obstructions: wildlife & raptors in vicinity; 85' lighted twr lctd N of ry 22R short final. Special Operations: Aerobatics; Agricultural Ops; Banner Towing; Military Ops; Helicopter Ops; Fuel: 100LL; Jet-premix; Noise Abatement: Runway 22 L/R preferred; ry 22R no turns prior to arpt boundary/canal; ry 22L no turns prior to arpt boundary/road; propeller acft req to use AOPA "noise awareness steps": turbine acft req to use NBAA"standard noise abatement dep procedures;, heli avoid residential area W & use HAI "fly neighborly program" Metar KCHD 060147Z 33020G25KT 30SM BKN250 38/01 A2964 Click here for translated METAR and TAF

I'd say you're probably okay. I'd dig around a little and see if there are any plans to expand the airport and/or airport operations. I know there's a small airport not far from here where they are hoping it will turn into a major cargo base in the future. However, it is highly unlikely because there just isn't money anywhere for major capital improvements like that, and there are large, surplus airports all around the country for stuff like that. Not knowing where this is, I can't say for sure. Only you have a better idea of what your city/county have plans for the future and drawing in business and development and such. I type that, and of course, I do know that they are talking about adding a bit more runway to my downtown small airport to draw in bigger business - right now it's just a tad too small for the smaller corporate jets and that sends them up to Clearwater. Runways are bi-directional. The aircraft will always land into the wind, whichever way that is blowing. Most airports have a prevailing wind which will tell you which direction the planes will be taking off and landing most of the time. Aircraft are the loudest on the take-off end because they are at full-power, and most quiet on the landing end because they are reducing power to slow and descend. Also, if there are no pattern restrictions (some airports will have you fly patterns away from denser areas or high terrain or something like that) then the pattern will almost always be counter-clockwise (left turns) because that's the side of the plane that the pilot at the controls normally sits (standard rectangular pattern). So, just for peace of mind, I would find out what the prevailing wind/runway is, and decide if your lot is under or near that pattern. It's probably still better than being near a major freeway from the sound of it. I would build there, for myself (and it would be nice to keep my plane close to the house).

Washingtonia palms are a weedy mess and harbor rats. There's a petite version of Metrosideros called 'Springfire'. Very nice small tree. The flowers attract hummingbirds. Arbutus unedo is a fine small tree but it does drop ornamental fruit that can make quite a mess. A Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) would be similar without the fruit. They develop a gorgeous smooth dark red trunk. The tiny flowers attract hummingbirds. Podocarpus are gorgeous trees but they do get enormous eventually. Eriobotrya deflexa is a nice clean smallish evergreen tree. Avoid E. japonica as the fruit makes a mess.