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Pilots, politicos in 'copter cacophony dogfight
Legislation looms as monitors track anti-noise compliance
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| | | By Meagan O'Connell |
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July 18, 2008 | 11:35 AM
They're still bringing the noise.
The voluntary agreement to reduce noise pollution from helicopters flying between Manhattan and the Hamptons, made between members of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council and the East End airports, is getting a thorough review, with summer 2008 now in full swing. The agreement, brokered by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), was announced in December as the next best solution after several failed attempts at legislation that would require the FAA to regulate the helicopter traffic.
According to Special Advisor Robert Grotell of the ERHC, the agreement gives pilots an opportunity to prove that they don't need FAA regulation. Grotell said pilots agreed to fly at a minimum of 2,500 feet during good weather conditions, and those flying with two engines were asked to fly a mile or more offshore over Long Island Sound; single-engine helicopters could fly closer to the shore, or over land.
Helicopter pilot Jay Veronko of Port Jefferson noted these aircraft have the right to go where they want. Veronko compared flying to the Hamptons to driving on the Long Island Expressway, saying you can't really move the routes. "We don't restrict the LIE to certain types of people," he said, adding that flying over land is much safer in case of an emergency and that pilots use landmarks such as power plants as guides.
And because it's a shorter route than flying over the Sound, flying over land also saves fuel and money, Veronko noted.
But for residents living under those skyways, the noise remains a quality of life issue. Cathy Mossholder of Setauket said she's been fighting for legislation for three years. "It's compromising not only my peace, but also my housing value," Mossholder said.
At a meeting held after Memorial Day to review compliance with the voluntary agreement, U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), who had attempted in 2007 to add an amendment to federal legislation to regulate helicopter routes, said the ERHC claimed its compliance for the holiday weekend to be 50 percent for altitude and 65 percent for routes. Since then, Bishop said, average altitude compliance has been about 60 percent with 90 percent route compliance. However, the numbers are difficult to verify without standardized data, the congressman noted.
Assemblyman Marc Alessi (D-Wading River) recently announced a bill passed by the state Assembly that would require the New York Department of Transportation to collect data of helicopter compliance at local airports and heliports. The report would document the number of takeoffs and landings, report on how complaints are addressed and provide an overall description of how aircraft, airports and heliports are
working to reduce noise pollution.
If such a report were to prove a lack of compliance, it would help Schumer and Bishop make a case that the FAA should regulate helicopter traffic, Alessi said. However, it may take years for a federal law to be approved. "Getting an act from Congress doesn't happen overnight," noted Alessi, whose bill still awaits the approval of the state Senate.
Bishop said he recognizes that helicopter pilots have a legitimate business to run and he's hopeful that the ERHC will comply with the voluntary agreement. "We are on the right trajectory," he said.
However, if the association fails to follow the agreement, he will again push for FAA regulation.
"It's very much a weekend phenomenon," said Craig Cooper of Smithtown, who also lives under a busy flight route. Schumer held a press conference last year in Cooper's driveway to announce his intention to seek relief for homeowners living under helicopter routes.
According to Grotell, even those who complain agree that the aircraft are flying higher. But this is not an isolated issue with one solution, he said, noting different areas face different problems, and only through increased communication with the community will the ERHC be able to solve these issues.
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