In the last few years, helicopter-related noise complaints have skyrocketed, going from 10,359 complaints filed with 311 in 2020, to 25,821 in 2021. These complaints have gone up over 2300% in the last five years.
21,620 of the complaints filed in 2021 came from Manhattan, illustrating the disproportionate impact on our communities. Helicopter noise penetrates every corner of the island, and I am firmly committed to ending non-essential helicopter tour flights and addressing the rise in charter flights.
This legislative session, I have put forward legislation to prohibit sightseeing helicopters from taking off and landing at heliports owned by the city if they meet certain noise thresholds. I have also introduced legislation with Council Member Lincoln Restler to prohibit non-essential helicopter flights from operating at City-owned or operated heliports. I continue to work closely with State and Federal colleagues to pass the policies needed to reduce the impact of helicopter noise and pollution.
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Please see below for background on the work that’s been done on this issue:
- July 2022: Compilation of Helicopter-related News Articles
- June 1, 2022: Letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Adams about the closure of the West 30th Street heliport
- June 1, 2022: Letter to NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball regarding the elimination of nonessential helicopter traffic from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport
- April 26, 2022: Letter to Governor Phil Murphy
- January 18, 2022: Letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, and Port Authority of NY/NJ
- October 29, 2021: Press Release on dual-state, multi-city, multi-borough coalition calling for immediate action on helicopters
- October 29, 2021: Letter to U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- January 8, 2020: Letter to Federal Aviation Administration
- June 28, 2019: Letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio
- June 21, 2019: Letter to Federal Aviation Administration
- October 12, 2016: Letter to Maria Torres-Springer (NYCEDC)
- August 8, 2014: Elected Officials Letter to Mayor de Blasio
