Big Apple residents are furious over the so-called “helicopter highway from hell” which they say is causing excessive noise and pollution as lawmakers seek to ban “non-essential” helicopter flights.
“We can’t take it anymore, it’s too much,” Dororta Lukaszynska, who has lived in Tribeca for two decades, told the Post on Tuesday.
“Noise pollution is a proven health hazard and we are subjected to these non-essential helicopter flights – tourist and commuter flights – seven days a week, at all hours,” Upper West Side resident Melissa and president of Stop the Chop. » added Elstein.
The city hosts around 30,000 flights a year, but these trips have been far outweighed by the number of noise complaints.
Over the past year, 59,000 complaints were filed, including 311 regarding helicopter noise, more than double the 26,000 filed in 2022.
City Council members proposed legislation Tuesday that would completely ban “non-essential” flights from the Big Apple’s two heliports until electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology is approved for use civil by the federal government.
eVOTL technology is expected to reduce noise and pollutants produced by helicopters.
“Helicopters are clearly a priority and an ongoing problem for all of New York City,” City Councilwoman Amanda Farias (D-Bronx) said at a rally outside City Hall on Tuesday, adding that the noise That’s not the only problem.
“The environmental effects of helicopters are extremely damaging to both our climate and the health of New Yorkers. A single helicopter idling is equivalent to 40 cars idling.
The Federal Aviation Administration is unlikely to approve eVOTL technology until next year, with commercial operations in New York not expected until at least 2026, according to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), which met with lawmakers for a hearing on the matter Tuesday.
“We recognize that community members have quality of life concerns regarding helicopter noise and we are committed to leveraging our position in this area to address these concerns,” said Jennifer Sun, vice-president. EDC’s executive planning president, during the hearing.
The city has not taken a public position on the proposed ban – much to the disappointment of the Economic Development Committee, chaired by Farias.
“We know that the legal department is looking at each of the bills together,” Sun said.
“Okay, so when should I expect, I mean, usually you come with a testimony, with some kind of answer,” Farias replied.
“Even though I can’t speak for them in terms of a timeline, I know it’s something they’re working on,” Sun continued.
Farias took the noncommittal response as a resounding show of support, saying, “I’m going to take it as if you all wholeheartedly support every intro and every resolution, then.”
If the legislation is approved, emergency medical services and news agencies would still be allowed to fly, but sightseeing flights for tourists and air travel for wealthier residents would be halted unless planes are powered by electricity.
“It’s high time for us to end the extreme noise and air pollution caused by the helicopter industry in New York, just so the privileged can get to the Hamptons or JFK faster. It’s false,” Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn), who introduced one of the bills, said.
“This is absolutely false. These people should use their car or, better yet, public transportation to get where they need to go.
EDC officials told lawmakers they can bring more positive change to the industry through franchise agreements with suppliers.
They currently have an “RFP” for a new provider to take over the Wall Street Heliport where many trips were complaining about launching from.
The agency said whoever wins the contract will need to create electric charging infrastructure in time for eVOTL approval and will be required to do so beforehand.
EDC believes companies will jump at the chance to capture the eVOTL market in the city “because of these noise complaints,” Adrian Fredriksson, director of aviation at EDC, said at the hearing.
While EDC acknowledged there have been a large number of complaints, it says a “sharp increase” is coming from the same people.
“So 90% comes from the top 20 plaintiffs. Now all complaints are valid, but they are, you know, they are often generated by the same user several times a day, sometimes with the addresses of all his neighbors as well,” Fredriksson argued.
They said about 1% of complaints were actually related to tourist flights, bolstering the 175 jobs created by the industry.
“The New York EDC told us that the helicopter industry generates less than $2 million in revenue for the city each year, a drop in the bucket of the city’s $100 million budget. New York City,” Farias said.
“It is simply unacceptable that our cities suffer the consequences of pollution and ridiculous noise levels just for the brief pleasure of a privileged few, especially when it brings virtually no revenue to the city.”
New York Post
