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.