Gates County commissioners have formally asked the U.S. Navy to drop its plans for a fighter-jet flyover, saying they don't know what purpose the demonstration would serve.

Camden County may follow suit and submit its own request.

Navy officials, however, said Wednesday that they couldn't commit to agreeing to Gates County's request.

The Navy had planned to fly a fighter jet at about 600 feet over the Hale's Lake site in Camden and the Sandbanks site in Gates that are being studied for a proposed outlying landing field. Navy officials said the demonstration could help residents in both areas truly understand what the jets would sound like as they fly overhead.

But residents from both counties are skeptical that the flyover would illustrate the real jet noise generated by an OLF.

In a letter dated June 2 to Navy Rear Admiral David Anderson, Gates County commissioners state that they appreciate the Navy's offer to fly jets lower over the Sandbanks site, but they "respectfully decline."

"Since the jets cannot practice actual touch-and-go landings (during the flyover), the demonstration would not convey the accurate noise levels of an OLF," the letter states.

The letter goes on to suggest that a number of veterans moved to Gates County to enjoy the quiet and rural setting, and still have access to their benefits and medical care just an hour away in the Virginia area.

"Many of our local veterans suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and the demonstration could be harmful to them," the letter states.

Gates commissioners also suggest that, considering the high costs of fuel, and the current national debt, the Navy flyover in Sandbanks would be a waste of taxpayer money.

Camden County Manager Randell Woodruff said he might ask Camden commissioners if they are interested in sending a similar letter to the Navy.

"I'm glad Gates did it," he said. "I'll probably mention it to our board to see if they are interested in doing the same."

Woodruff said Camden commissioners have discussed that the planned flyover would not be a very worthwhile illustration of the jet sounds normally heard at a touch-and-go landing field. Woodruff also said the sound of the fighter jets flying over Camden during the demonstration might startle some residents.

He said he has spoken with people who were startled by the jet noise during a similar Navy demonstration over the Chowan River Bridge a few years ago.

"It scared them," Woodruff said.

Larry Johnson, president of Concerned Citizens Against the OLF in Camden, agreed that the flyover wouldn't show citizens much. He said a jet makes a much louder sound as it powers up for takeoff than flying overhead.

"When you fly over, you are not getting an accurate re-enactment of what is taking place. That is very flawed," Johnson said. "A touch-and-go (landing and takeoff) is the only way to do that (demonstration)."

Juanita Krause, a Moyock resident who is part of an OLF opposition group from Currituck County, said it wouldn't be a bad idea for her county commissioners to send the Navy the same letter Gates officials have. She said the flyover wouldn't illustrate jet noise from an OLF.

She also said the other problem is that the demonstration would be held in the afternoon — a time many Currituck residents are working in Virginia.

"They are at work in Virginia Beach. They are already hearing (jet noise)," she said.

Currituck Board of Commissioners Chairman Barry Nelms said the flyovers don't make sense.

"I'm just speaking as a citizen. It doesn't make any sense to fly over at 600 or 800 feet when actually the plan is to touch down, and then full power off," he said.

Nelms said he wasn't aware of the letter from Gates County officials, but he agreed with its content after a reporter read it to him.

"It makes sense to me," he said.

Navy Cmdr. Richard Catoire said the demonstration is designed more to give residents an idea of what the jets would sound like on their way to the field, not taking off or landing.

"We've done these in the past for other communities to give them a representation of what the noise levels are," he said. "They are not meant to portray the actual landing at the field. We know there is no field there."

Catoire said the Navy couldn't promise at this time not to fly jets over the Camden or Gates sites. He said a flyover might be necessary to gauge noise levels as part of the ongoing study process. The Navy is evaluating the Hale's Lake site in Camden, the Sandbanks site in Gates County, and three sites in Virginia, for the OLF.

"We're going to look at the letter (from Gates) officials and make a decision (about a flyover)," he said. "If you want an accurate study, you have to do certain things. I'm not sure what will be required as we're developing noise studies."