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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2005
SCHUMER: SPATE OF LOW-FLYING HELICOPTERS THIS SUMMER MAKING
LIFE MISERABLE FOR LONG ISLAND COMMUNITIES
Schumer says Badly Needed FAA Plan to Redesign LI Airspace
- Key to Reducing Low Flying Helicopters Over Long Island - Now
Nearly Two Years Overdue
Schumer Calls on FAA to set up Network of Helicopter
Lanes to have Pilots Fly over Water and Avoid Residential Areas
In the midst of the summer travel season Long Island residents
are once again faced with a spike in noise coming from low flying
helicopters, mostly those flying from New York City out to the East
End of Long Island. In an effort to relieve Long Islanders, today
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the FAA to complete a
long overdue redesign of New York City Area Airspace, and to include
helicopter noise considerations as part of its plan. He also called
on the FAA to set up a strict network of helicopter lanes that would
divert pilots to fly over water and avoid residential areas. Helicopters
on Long Island can basically fly anywhere with no true minimum and
maximum altitudes. There are predetermined routes in some areas,
but for the most part helicopters fly unregulated. Even worse, helicopters
in high traffic areas are forced to fly lower, around 600 feet to
avoid air traffic.
“The bottom line is we could have been well on our way to
fixing helicopter noise over Long Island if the FAA wasn’t
dragging its feet,” Schumer said.
Helicopters have no minimum altitude requirements when en route,
although they must maintain safe clearance from obstructions on
the ground. In areas where airspace is congested, especially near
commercial airports, the FAA does have some specified routes and
altitude requirements designed to keep larger aircraft and helicopters
at a safe distance. Helicopter pilots must comply with these prescribed
routes or altitudes in certain areas.
Helicopter noise has become more than a nuisance to Long Islanders
in the summer when traffic to and from the Hamptons is markedly
higher than during other seasons with residents of the North Shore
of Long Island bearing brunt of it. Particularly the town of Brookhaven
and communities that include but may not be limited to Port Jefferson,
Poquott, Mount Sinai, Sound Beach, Belle Terre and Centereach. In
2000, the NRDC calculated that more than 140,000 helicopters flew
over the New York area yearly. Additionally, local residents have
noticed a dramatic spike in traffic over the last two years that
they say are now above pre-9/11 levels.
Schumer also said today that the FAA's delays on massive New York
airspace redesign are hampering efforts to reduce helicopter noise
over Long Island. That project is now projected to be at least four
years late. Before the project can proceed, the FAA must complete
a draft Environmental Impact Statement, which was originally set
for release in 2003. After multiple delays, it is now not expected
at least until this fall.
The FAA has cited the fact that internal agency work is taking longer
than expected as a reason for the plan's delays. In strong language,
Schumer called on the FAA to complete both the preliminary study
and the airspace redesign as quickly as possible to improve safety
and efficiency in the entire region and also alleviate the irritation
of low flying helicopters over New Yorker’s homes. The goal
of the plan is to allow all aircraft, including commercial flights,
general aviation and small plane traffic, and all helicopters to
fly at a higher altitude longer over the New York City area. Once
the plan is implemented, helicopters would be able to fly higher
without coming too close with incoming flights.
In 1998, the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) initiated the National
Airspace System Redesign program to maintain safety, decrease delays,
and reduce congestion in the American airspace, particularly in
the crowded airspace between Philadelphia and Boston. Testifying
before the House of Representatives in October 1999, then-FAA Administrator
Jane Garvey promised that the "Redesign is expected to take
approximately eight years to be implemented across the entire country,
but tangible benefits are expected in the eastern portion of the
United States within five years." Schumer said that seven years
later the FAA has made little progress and, on the FAA’s timetable,
Long Islanders are still a long way from relief.
A 1999 Natural Resources Defense Council study on the environmental
impact of helicopter noise on the tri-state region found that helicopters
are inadequately regulated with no minimum flight altitudes or required
flight paths in most places. Supervision of the helicopter industry,
under the jurisdiction of the FAA, does little to control the harmful
effects of helicopter engines on the population, including reduced
air quality and disruptive noise. Helicopter routes in the New York
City area are essentially voluntary agreements made between the
FAA and helicopter operators, so they can be changed at whim, disrupting
the quality of life of those below their flight path.
In an effort to bring relief to Long Islanders, today U.S Senator
Charles E. Schumer renewed his call on FAA Administrator Marion
Blakey to move quickly to complete the New York City Metropolitan
Area airspace redesign plan and implement it as soon as possible.
In addition, Schumer asked Blakey to include helicopter noise issues
over Long Island as part of the overall airspace redesign. Schumer
said the best way to do reduce helicopter noise over Long Island’s
residential communities is for the FAA to establish an island-wide
series of helicopter flight corridors that would divert aircraft
away from homes, to preferably over the water. Schumer noted that
emergency and news helicopters would certainly be exempt from any
rules and regulations in an emergency.
In his letter, Schumer said “I urge you to move forward with
the redesign plan, and pledge my support in that effort. The problem
of helicopter noise over Long Island is getting worse and causing
serious disruptions to communities all over the New York City Area.
I hope you will work with all due speed to resolve this situation.”
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