QUESTION
What are the regulations and possibilities for controlling helicopter noise levels by adjusting flight routes and altitudes?
1:56:37
·
3 min
Gale Brewer asks if helicopter tour operators can fly at higher altitudes to reduce noise, especially those along the Hudson River.
Stacy Sheard from the Eastern Region Helicopter Council explains that they work with air traffic control and the FAA to adjust routes and altitudes in response to community noise complaints.
- They collaborate with authorities to restructure helicopter routes when neighbors report issues
- When they identify noise hotspots, they discuss relocating routes or changing altitudes
- The goal is to improve the situation for impacted communities
- However, they cannot control flights originating from outside their jurisdiction, like tours from New Jersey
Gale A. Brewer
1:56:37
I mean, we have spent a lot of time on the tourism, not the transport so much, getting them to fly higher, particularly along the Hudson River, but they don't.
1:56:48
I don't know that this little thing without doors that I was in from New Jersey could fly with the jets.
1:56:57
So I'm just wondering Is that is that what you're envisioning?
1:57:01
Who's These tourism things, to be honest with you, are more noise provoking than perhaps even what we've been talking about today coming out of downtown.
1:57:11
They are, like, constant all summer long.
1:57:14
So my question is, what height can they fly at that would be better, or will they do that?
1:57:21
And can they do that?
1:57:23
Now I've heard about the things without the doors.
Stacy Sheard
1:57:25
Yes.
1:57:26
That is something that is in discussion route routing altitudes and restructuring routes to take them in when when neighbors make complaints, and we hear that.
1:57:38
And we've realized that there's an issue over our neighborhood.
1:57:41
We have to work with air traffic control, FAA, and the powers that be in order to move routes.
1:57:47
The FAA will hear noise complaints ERHC, we'll hear we all hear the noise complaints, and that's when we bring it to the meetings and say, hey.
1:57:55
We're we have a hot spot here.
1:57:56
We need to relocate this.
1:57:57
We need to look the altitude.
1:57:59
We need to see what we can do to make it better for the community.
Gale A. Brewer
1:58:02
You can do anything about carrying the New Jersey flying to New York city, they come in the hundreds on the weekends.
1:58:10
Right over Central Park, right over governors Island, right over Brooklyn Bridge Park.
1:58:15
You can do something about that?
Stacy Sheard
1:58:18
No.
1:58:18
I don't think that's what I was referring to.
1:58:20
I was just referring to adjusting routes, routing altitudes, and adjusting locations of routes.
1:58:24
So do you alright.
1:58:25
But, no,
Gale A. Brewer
1:58:25
no, no, you can't do anything about that particular situation in New Jersey?
Stacy Sheard
1:58:30
No, ma'am.
1:58:31
I don't think that that was stopping flights is not something that we do.
Gale A. Brewer
1:58:36
Okay.
1:58:36
Thank you.
Josh Rousseau
1:58:37
Counsel member, if I could just add to your question.
1:58:40
I think just like we work with our members respectively in our organizations in New York State, we're also working with those members in New Jersey and elsewhere as well.
1:58:47
So I can tell you that those conversations are ongoing literally on a weekly basis to make sure that our members are being respectful of the communities that they live and serve and fly in.
1:58:56
And I think, again, referring to good news, it's forthcoming, and certainly you guys will absolutely have that information in your pockets.
1:59:04
We have the ability to affect our members Right?
1:59:07
We all work together, and I think it's critically important to note that we strongly strongly encourage our members to be at the top of their game as far as best practices and being responsible to the communities.
1:59:18
So those conversations are ongoing.
1:59:20
I think to Stacey's point, We can't force to use that word folks to do things, but we certainly within our ability as an organization, an all inclusive, an organization in our industry, we do have the ability to strongly encourage and push our members in the right direction, the right direction being from your perspective.
Lydon Sleeper
1:59:40
If if I could also just say you mentioned Kearny, we've got a partnership with the Kearny team where we're actually gonna add our charging infrastructure at Kearny.
1:59:48
So we'll be able to take off and land there as well as Wall Street and East 34th Street.
1:59:52
So we're excited about the progress we're making in the city, but we're also expanding to to Hillport's attorney.
Gale A. Brewer
1:59:58
Doors offer on.
Lydon Sleeper
2:00:00
We'll we'll have doors on.
2:00:01
I don't yeah.
Gale A. Brewer
2:00:02
They want the they tourists want the doors off.
2:00:04
That's the problem.
2:00:05
I don't agree with it, but I'm telling you that's what's going on because I was in the in the helicopter.