The citymeetings.nyc logo showing a pigeon at a podium with a microphone.

citymeetings.nyc

Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

TESTIMONY

Peter Maloney, Member of the Public on Non-Essential Commuter Helicopter Flights Over Residential Areas of New York City

3:36:36

·

142 sec

Maloney highlights issues with non-essential commuter helicopter flights over outer boroughs of New York City.

  • Commuter helicopters like Uber and Blade frequently fly over residential areas at low altitudes
  • They violate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines on altitude and ability to divert in emergencies
  • Complaints about noise are undercounted as the complaint process is cumbersome
  • Calls for restrictions on non-essential commuter helicopter flights over populated areas
Peter Maloney
3:36:36
Thank you for taking this and giving this opportunity.
3:36:39
We've heard a lot of testimony.
3:36:42
I have to agree with even my college right here because I'm I'm not going to Governor's Island again.
3:36:48
I I was the last time I was there.
Amanda Farías
3:36:49
Can you just state your name?
3:36:50
Oh, I'm sorry.
Peter Maloney
3:36:51
I got yeah.
3:36:52
Peter Maloney, I'm a resident of Flatbush.
3:36:55
My colleague Mark Young from South Midwood Residence Association also spoke.
3:37:00
So I am here just to sort of follow on a lot of what everybody's been saying.
3:37:04
But one thing though, it's there's been a lot of focus on commuter.
3:37:09
On tourist helicopters, at least for the outer boroughs.
3:37:13
The issue is commuter helicopters.
3:37:15
And we can track it there you've heard there's tracking apps.
3:37:20
We can track it, and you can see their Uber and their Blade helicopters.
3:37:25
And they're flying over at the height of the the the tourist season.
3:37:30
They're going to JFK.
3:37:32
There could be 30 in a day.
3:37:34
And they're flying so low as you've heard before.
3:37:37
The f you make a complaint.
3:37:39
You get back a form letter from the FAA.
3:37:41
The FAA gives you their guidelines.
3:37:44
I even can look them up.
3:37:46
They're violating at least 2 of the most important guidelines.
3:37:49
Their height, and they're being able to veer off in cases of emergency.
3:37:52
They're flying right over Flatbush Avenue.
3:37:55
It's the same path I've noticed for years that the police fly.
3:37:57
The police need to fly it.
3:37:59
And you do that because it's line of sight.
3:38:01
You can see fly bush avenue all the way down to the rock always.
3:38:05
They fly because it's easy.
3:38:07
Now if they get the technology allows them to fly without visual line of sight, what's that gonna do?
3:38:13
Anyway, it's I think you really have to consider this as also very much an environmental justice issue.
3:38:20
They they there is an under count.
3:38:22
I guarantee you there's an undercount in the number of complaints.
3:38:25
I get tired of making the complaints.
3:38:27
I have to stop working.
3:38:29
I'm I'm working inside and I can't make a phone call from inside my house.
3:38:33
I have to stop the phone call.
3:38:34
So how many complaints are you gonna make in today?
3:38:37
It takes about 5 or 10 minutes and we have to fill out everything on the complaint.
3:38:40
So it's undercounted especially in the outer boroughs where a lot of people aren't gonna have you know, the means to make complaints.
3:38:48
So
Morris Pesin
3:38:50
Thank you.
Peter Maloney
3:38:50
And they need they need to follow their guide, their altitude restrictions, and they say they're not following them.
Amanda Farías
3:38:55
Absolutely.
3:38:56
Thank you for your testimony.
Peter Maloney
3:38:57
Thank you.
Citymeetings.nyc pigeon logo

Is citymeetings.nyc useful to you?

I'm thrilled!

Please help me out by answering just one question.

What do you do?

Thank you!

Want to stay up to date? Sign up for the newsletter.