FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24th, 2025
CONTACT: Emma Johnson
ejohnson@council.nyc.gov
347-864-4925
City Council Moves to Regulate Helicopters in New York City
With passage of new legislation, non-essential helicopter flights will be prohibited unless they meet federal standards
NEW YORK – Council Member Keith Powers is co-prime sponsor on legislation to regulate the use of helicopters in New York City for tourism and luxury travel, which had a hearing before the Committee on Economic Development today. Intro 26-A, or the Helicopter Oversight Act, would prohibit helicopter flights from city-owned heliports, unless the choppers meet strict federal noise standards, known as Stage 3.
The legislation is getting a renewed push in the City Council after the tragedy that occurred in the Hudson River earlier this month. A sightseeing helicopter crashed into the river, killing the pilot and five passengers on board. The shocking loss of six lives has increased calls for helicopter flights to be regulated, building on concerns from the community that helicopters are unsafe, disruptive, and harm the environment.
The danger of helicopters in a dense city is not a new concern. For years, New Yorkers have complained about the risks, relentless noise, and harmful emissions from low-flying helicopters. In 2023 alone, more than 59,000 noise complaints were filed with 311. Council Member Powers has fought for regulations on these flights throughout his time in the City Council, and is joining Majority Leader Amanda Farias on the legislation to make our skies, and city, safer.
The Helicopter Oversight Act addresses the community’s concerns by targeting sightseeing tours and luxury commuter flights operating out of the Downtown Manhattan and East 34th Street heliports, which are owned by the City and operated under contracts with the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Essential operations, including law enforcement, emergency response, news gathering, and film production, remain fully exempt.
Council Member Keith Powers said, “Not only are helicopters noisy and carbon-intensive, they are dangerous. The tragedy in the Hudson this month follows another crash in the East River in 2018, which resulted in the death of five people. I have long called for non-essential helicopter flights, like for sightseeing tours or luxury travel, to be regulated, and with the grief of the most recent crash fresh in New Yorkers’ minds, the issue is more urgent than ever.”
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