John Boucher

John Boucher, owner of OAS and committee member, said that the committee's intent had been lost in the "lawyerized" draft."It's less direct, it's been mystified," he said.Although helicopters have the ability to fly straight up to 500 feet, then across in any direction, he objected to the change."The committee's intent was that aircraft shouldn't be able to fly over an event at all," Boucher said.The committee had recommended that pilots check a public events calendar and, if an event is scheduled, fly in another direction, avoiding the event site.Asked if he ran helicopters on weekends, Boucher said no in respect to people's feelings."It's an emotional buffer," he said.
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Boucher then noted that he knew of several residents that already had personal helicopters that regularly flew in and out of town."That you don't know about it is indicative of how unobtrusive they are," he said.He said the noise of a helicopter is no louder than a motorcycle and noted that it's "transient noise ... over in five minutes."
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Boucher said that "two or three" probably wouldn't.
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It's not a hardship," Boucher said.

The committee was comprised of Community Development Director Paul Esparza, Town Engineer Jim Matteson, Show Low Airport Director Dennis Wiss, John Boucher, owner of Overseas Aircraft Support, a helicopter manufacturer, and interested citizens Lloyd Pentecost and Don McMasters.

However, OAS owner John Boucher denied helicopters are taking off out of his Woodland Road facility."Not to the best of my knowledge," Boucher said when asked by The Independent if flights were still originating on-site.But he noted that he frequently has been out of town.He acknowledged that Mexican pilots flew helicopters around town about a month ago, "but we told them to go to the airport."Although the helicopters have been "running on the ground," the company is transporting the aircraft to the Show Low Airport in a newly-acquired custom-made trailer for test flights."We have been flying higher in order not to irritate anyone," he said.
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Boucher told The Independent last month that his company went to the FAA and asked what it needed for a formal FAA-approved heliport."They gave us a footprint.We currently don't meet the requirements.We will, but we're not there yet," he said.
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Clients include the PGR, which Boucher called the "Mexican DEA," and Argentina contracts.

After Teague inquired, OAS owner John Boucher identified the aircraft and pilot which she submitted to the FAA.She said that when she asked Boucher for a copy of the pilot's airman certificate and current medical records, which are required by the FAA, he did not have the information.She also said she wasn't able to find the pilot's certification on the FAA website.The pilot is not employed by OAS; he is employed by the Mexican government.Teague is currently waiting for a response from the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office.Boucher asked the councilwoman to join an ad hoc committee recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission to study the issue, but Teague refused.

OAS owner John Boucher said he was "surprised" by the residents' opposition."Many visitors are excited by this kind of business," he said.He noted the company has the "unique capability" of quickly responding to local emergencies."We would be appreciated at that time," he said.Boucher said he operated a turbine overhaul shop 19 years in Tucson, and "no one ever got hurt or killed by the work we did."He said his "talented" staff includes mechanics who have worked on aircraft since the 1960s and most with an "extensive" military background on aircrafts.The company monthly payroll for 16 employees is $42,000 a month.OAS produces about one helicopter a month, typically for foreign customers.His clients include the PGR, which Boucher called the "Mexican DEA," and Argentina contracts.Boucher said test flights were not a matter of "hoping nothing happens."By the time an aircraft is flight-tested, it's already passed numerous ground checks and tests.As for the proximity of the Mountain Meadow Recreational Complex, Boucher said his daughter plays soccer on the ballfields.He said his own inquiry to the FAA had confirmed the town had the ability to deny helicopters from taking off and flying within the town limits, but he asked what would happen to medical evacuation aircraft.He said he was willing to compromise by rerouting flights away from populated areas.Boucher also said the company's doors are open to visitors.
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OAS owner John Boucher said he was "surprised" by the residents' opposition.Come on now, multiple flights in a day, only several hundred feet over my house.

OAS owner John Boucher said he was "surprised" by the residents' opposition."Many visitors are excited by this kind of business," he said.He noted the company has the "unique capability" of quickly responding to local emergencies."We would be appreciated at that time," he said.Boucher said he operated a turbine overhaul shop 19 years in Tucson, and "no one ever got hurt or killed by the work we did."He said his "talented" staff includes mechanics who have worked on aircraft since the 1960s and most with an "extensive" military background on aircrafts.The company monthly payroll for 16 employees is $42,000 a month.OAS produces about one helicopter a month, typically for foreign customers.His clients include the PGR, which Boucher called the "Mexican DEA," and Argentina contracts.Boucher said test flights were not a matter of "hoping nothing happens."By the time an aircraft is flight-tested, it's already passed numerous ground checks and tests.As for the proximity of the Mountain Meadow Recreational Complex, Boucher said his daughter plays soccer on the ballfields.He said his own inquiry to the FAA had confirmed the town had the ability to deny helicopters from taking off and flying within the town limits, but he asked what would happen to medical evacuation aircraft.He said he was willing to compromise by rerouting flights away from populated areas.Boucher also said the company's doors are open to visitors.

PINETOP-LAKESIDE - After nervous citizens complained about test flights over their homes, Overseas Aircraft Support (OAS) owner John Boucher spent $50,000 to acquire two customized trailers to transport helicopters to the Show Low airport.
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Boucher says he never thought to check the height.OAS ended up flying the helicopter to the airport.Boucher said he will continue to work on a solution that will make neighbors happy.He's now on the lookout for a heavy-equipment "low boy" trailer to transport the aircraft."We are trying like hell to make people happy," he said.As for the $50,000 expense, "live and learn," Boucher told The Independent.The Woodland Road facility came under fire earlier this year from residents concerned with the test flight above their neighborhoods.Some neighbors and community members, however, defended OAS, citing the prestige of having such an industry in the area and its accompanying jobs and high salaries.OAS employs 16 full-time workers, many mechanics with extensive military aircraft backgrounds.The company produces about one helicopter a month, typically for foreign customers including the PGR, which Boucher called the "Mexican DEA."Nevertheless, Boucher voluntarily suspended test flights in and out of the facility.Partly in response to the uproar, the town is considering prohibiting heliports within the town limits, except with a conditional use permit and for emergency landings or as part of an emergency response.Officials like the CUP process because it requires a public hearing which would give citizens a chance to voice their opinions.The Planning and Zoning Commission debated a proposed ordinance calling for applicants to obtain an "appropriate and safety certificate" from the Federal Aviation Administration.But the commission backed down after Boucher said the FAA does not issue certificates for their type of facility."I'm the one who suggested you utilize a CUP ... but the wording as it is now, that won't happen," Boucher said at the time, adding that he is willing to bring in a FAA official to talk with staff and citizens.

Renner urged the council to work with OAS owner John Boucher to keep the business going.
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Boucher said his "talented" staff includes mechanics who have worked on aircraft since the 1960s, most with an "extensive" military aircraft background.The company monthly payroll for 16 employees is $42,000 a month.OAS produces about one helicopter a month, typically for foreign customers.His clients include the PGR, which Boucher called the "Mexican DEA," and Argentina contracts.Boucher said he moved here to lower his stress levels."Recently it's been anything but," he quipped.However, he continued, the upside to the controversy is the outpouring of support and "extraordinary number of people showing up with aviation backgrounds hoping to find their way back into aviation."Boucher said he would hate the idea of having spent "so much time and money to build a lifestyle" and be forced to relocate over "issues that could easily be resolved."He pointed out that the county line is only feet away and he could just circumvent the town's jurisdiction.He offered to pave a field belonging to the town and use that as a path line.The Show Low airport will have a hanger they could work at ready next summer but, in the meantime, he does not want to submit his employees to "zero-degree weather" during the winter.

Residents speak outResident John Hartnett said he has a "fair amount" of experience with aircraft and appreciates the need for business but his concern is with aircraft fatigue problems.He visited the facility and saw a lot of Army surplus "that was quite old."He said all are first flights and should not be conducted over residential areas.If the town allows it, he added, then the town will be liable.
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Boucher said he's already contacted the FAA and a representative is willing to come to town and address the issue.

OAS owner John Boucher replied that he was a "willing participant" in finding a compromise.Boucher said that his facility "meets the intent" of the advisory circular but that establishing a formal heliport would be like establishing an airport, an invitation for anybody to land at his facility."I don't want an airport, I don't want to sell fuel," he said."We're not in the business of flying helicopters.We're in the business of repairing helicopters.Flying them just proves we did our job."He also had a request."I beg you to drop the 'heliport'.I want nothing to do with a heliport," Boucher said.Instead, he suggested the use of "helipad."He said a lot of the FAA guidelines were "interpretive" and too restrictive for a "casual use" helipad.
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Commissioner Georgia Dysterheft asked if Boucher and other concerned community members would be interested in "getting together and working this out."
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Boucher agreed, noting he knew of other town residents who flew in and out of their homes."This is not about me, it's about us," he said.The commission voted unanimously to recommend the town council form an ad-hoc committee to study the issue.Boucher suggested the committee include neighboring residents, town staff, OAS representatives and other interested citizens.