TESTIMONY
Stan O'Connor, Licensed Tour Guide, on the Economic Impact of Helicopter Tours Compared to Walking Tours
3:34:20
·
133 sec
O'Connor argues that helicopter tours have a negative economic impact compared to walking tours conducted by licensed guides.
- There are almost 10,000 licensed tour guides in NYC who provide walking tours and bring visitors to local businesses
- Helicopter tour customers only spend money on a 30-minute flight that creates noise pollution
- Proposed restrictions on helicopter tours would protect the livelihoods of tour guides who were operating before helicopter tours
- Tour guides help distribute tourism income throughout the city by bringing visitors to various neighborhoods and businesses
Stan O'Connor
3:34:20
Hello.
3:34:22
Majority later.
3:34:25
I'm my name is Stan O'Connor.
3:34:27
I'm a licensed tour guide.
3:34:29
We 10,000 guides.
3:34:32
There are almost 10,000 licensed guides.
3:34:37
Lose money every time 4 passengers paying $250 each.
3:34:43
Take off for a 30 minute flight.
3:34:45
I would be happy to give a half day tour for $250, but those people go up in the air.
3:34:52
We guides provide real walking tours in which we take people to museums.
3:34:57
Here's my AMNH membership card.
3:35:00
Restaurants, bars, stores aren't customers spend money in the city.
3:35:05
Tourcopter customers spend money on a 30 minute view that creates noise over the head of millions.
3:35:11
When the helicopter operators cry about a coming loss of jobs to a 175 workers, please remember that they are endangering the line lihards of 10,000 tour guides, and we were here first.
3:35:26
Economic to bill and should support and promote real tours with real guides because we want tourism income to be distributed throughout the city.
3:35:36
There's a YouTube video that that documents Fort Triumph Park Overflights at 1 every 2 minutes.
3:35:44
The official earlier mentioned that the FAA rules supersede any possible city rules, copiers at downtown teleport are refueled in a manner that's against FAA rules, and apparently nobody checks.
3:35:56
Normally, aircraft engines are to shut off while refueling just as you shut up your car at the gas station.
3:36:02
Hot refueling with the engine running is against the rules.
3:36:06
The FAA says to avoid hot refueling except when, quote, operationally necessary, such as in a medevac situation in which many emergency flights are needed.
3:36:16
At Pier 6, they do it all the time.
3:36:18
I have photos.
3:36:20
Hot refueling saves time, which increases the number of flights.
3:36:24
This is a tourist flight assembly line that could turn into a fireball.
3:36:29
Thank you.
3:36:33
Thanks.