How do you handle this neighbor?

[cashflyer]

I live in an airpark community. (Like a golf community, but with pilots instead of golfers.)

One guy in the neighborhood, we will call him Bob, displays erratic behaviour, seems to have anger management issues, etc. There is one other neighbor (Jay) that he seems to have a particular hatred of, but almost everyone here is on his "list". I have lived here for two years. Bob has always had a reputation as a hot-head, but he seems to be getting worse over the last year.

Bob works for a major airline as a first officer. He was let go from a different major, and went to work for this one. As of last summer, he was put on "standby relief" status and has had a lot of free time.

Here are some stories:

Bob has a few firearms. He shoots a lot on his property, but since we are out of the city limits he is not breaking any laws. He also buys a lot of tannerite to make extra noise. Last summer, they guy was out on the community property walking around with a rifle. This is property that adjoins Jay's, and Jay was outside on his lawn. After a few verbal barbs were exchanged, Jay says, "well I got one too... want me to go get it?" Bob then goes home and calls the cops to report that Jay threatened him.

Our runway is grass, and the neighbors mow it voluntarily. Last summer during one of the mowing sessions, Bob comes in low and fast with his RV7 and got damned close to a guy on a tractor. The tractor guy subsequently filed a complaint with the FAA. The FAA came out and spoke to him in a stern voice, but no action was taken. Then Bob issues a threat that he will "get back at us all".

When Bob participates in a mowing session, he mows with the deck as low as it will go, and mows in no particular direction. So we get scalped, brown grass in crazy streaks all over the place.

He made a home-made VASI unit and installed it at the edge of the runway, telling the community that he was donating it to improve landing safety at night. Since it was a home-made contraption, we had to issue a NOTAM warning people to not use it. Now he has removed it and said he will send us a bill. (what for?)

This past week, he installed a 20 foot flag pole on his property. On top of it he mounted a video camera pointing at Jay's house.

His hangar is on the opposite side of the runway from his house. He drives his car, his truck, his bobcat, and his bucket lift back and forth across the runway rather than around the road. Over the winter, he used the bobcat to drag logs from one property to the other so he could cut them up for firewood.


Man, I could go on and on, but I hope you get the idea.


We have loosely written C&Rs that are virtually unenforceable. And I don't know if he is breaking any laws. He's just being an ass, but he is acting so irrationally that some of the neighbors are getting worried about his actions.

We are having a representative from the Sheriff's department come out tomorrow to speak with the airpark association officers. The FAA seems unable or unwilling to take any action.

Suggestions welcome.

[mattdavis11]

I would say take a Shyte on his driveway.... You guys ought to get some cattle out there on the runway, to mow of course, when you don't plan on descending, and he does.

[Nostril Cheese]

Is there a type of HOA in an airpark? This is the only instance where I think one might be helpful.

[ZOA NOM]

Holy crap, a homemade VASI? I'm really surprised the FAA didn't do something other than have you issue a NOTAM. You could kill somebody if that VASI isn't aligned properly. Hopefully, he was somewhat competent with it's installation. Is there a neutral neighbor that could take the lead and have a civil discussion with the guy to give him a way to air his grievances, or at least confirm he's nuts?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Blanket party.

[lendaddy]

Well you can't kill him now that you've posted this so i'll have to think of a good plan B. I really wish you would have PMd me first

[Heel n Toe]

Cash, it sounds like this dude is possibly one of those "types" who just pokes and pokes until he gets somebody ticked enough to engage him in a fistfight.

Or he could be someone who needs to be on some kind of psych med... or was, and just stopped taking it because he didn't like the side effects.

Either way, if it seems like he's getting "worse," just be on guard, because one day he could go off his nut and strike out and hurt somebody or go postal in some way.

Do you know if he indulges in adult beverages from time to time? That's always good for releasing demons in guys like him.

Just for a little comic relief...

[HHI944]

Curb Stomp

[Gogar]

Pimp slap

[widgeon13]

Maybe an anonymous letter to the local ATF office complaining that he has some highly illegal firepower would have them coming down hard on him. Give him a good look see.

Or you can just wait til he goes postal on you.

Talking to him isn't going to do anything good.

[pavulon]

If you talk to him, make it once and try to find out what it is exactly that is frustrating him so much. I suspect he's lived there for a long time, had things change a lot in that time and believes that his efforts and insight are not appreciated.

[Gator996]

I live in an airpark as well. We have that one "guy" also. I think it is a requirement to live in an airpark that at least one nut job be on the premises. Our nut is also a legacy carrier captain which is not comforting.

[Chocaholic]

If you talk to him, make it once and try to find out what it is exactly that is frustrating him so much. I suspect he's lived there for a long time, had things change a lot in that time and believes that his efforts and insight are not appreciated.

He's just being misunderstood and is crying out for compassion, love and support. A group hug should set things right.

[911SauCy]

Ofbk

[VaSteve]

N! ?

[targa911S]

kick him in the nuts.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Is there a type of HOA in an airpark?

There is a loosely written set of Covenants and Restrictions, but they are not really enforceable due to them being improperly recorded back in the 80s. There is no HOA like most people know, only an Airpark Association whose only capacity is to maintain the runway.

Originally Posted by ZOA NOM

Holy crap, a homemade VASI? I'm really surprised the FAA didn't do something other than have you issue a NOTAM. You could kill somebody if that VASI isn't aligned properly. Hopefully, he was somewhat competent with it's installation. Is there a neutral neighbor that could take the lead and have a civil discussion with the guy to give him a way to air his grievances, or at least confirm he's nuts?

The VASI was a single lens (three color) type, however the lens colors were not in accordance with the AIM.


The FAA said they could do nothing because this is a private airport.
I was the neighborhoods neutral neighbor when I moved here. Everyone else was already soured on this guy, and they hoped I could bring him back into the fold. They made me the Chairman of the association, and made him the vice-chairman in an effort to give him input and make him feel loved. He showed up at one meeting, demanding that the neighborhood install high intensity strobes on the runway, install taxiway lighting, and several other measures. When his proposals were voted down he got mad, left, and has not been back to any meetings. I was still neutral on my feelings toward him until about 6 weeks ago. He sent me a rambling email with various threats, and I just don't cotton to that.

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Cash, it sounds like this dude is possibly one of those "types" who just pokes and pokes until he gets somebody ticked enough to engage him in a fistfight.

This was one of my considerations... that he is just an ******* looking to provoke people. Although we could just ignore him and hope he will stop, he has already poisoned the neighborhood. His personal vendetta against Jay is already 'over the top' and has other neighbors worried that this will end up in bloodshed.

Crazy Bob does not drink, afaik, but Jay does. As a further example of Bob's provocations: Jay is from this area, but had been living in KY with his wife. His wife was killed in an unfortunate boating accident, and Jay was at the wheel at the time. As you may expect, Jay slips in and out of depression and alcoholism on a regular basis. He moved back to his home area a few years ago in an attempt to flee the area of his painful memories. Somehow, Bob found out about this. And now Bob routinely uses this as ammunition against Jay; calling him a wife killer, murderer, alky, etc.

Is it a stretch to think that one day Jay will snap and either shoot Bob, or will be shot by Bob when he tries to choke the crazy out of him?

[ZOA NOM]

Sure sounds like a recipe for trouble if you can't figure out a way to reason with the guy and rein him in. Good luck.

[on2wheels52]

Is Bob smart enough to know what a burning cross on his front lawn means?

[targa911S]

I'm thinking a good, hired whoopin' could help. Not a killin...just a bad whoopin with a warning.