Congressman Dan Goldman Demands Answers From Federal Aviation Administration and National Park Service on Air Tour Operators and Non-Essential Helicopters
Helicopter Noise Complaints Up 2,300 Percent in NYC Over Past Five Years
Regulations Around Statue of Liberty and Governor’s Island Less Restrictive Than Other Similar Areas
No Limits on Hours of Operation or Number of Tours
Letter Co-Led with NJ Rep. Robert Menendez, Joined by Members of NY and NJ Delegations
Listen to Goldman’s Remarks Here
New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) was today joined by Congressman Robert Menendez (NJ-08) in leading a demand for answers from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) on the impact of loose and insufficient commercial air tour regulations and non-essential helicopter flights on quality of life on the New York and New Jersey waterfront. The letter was joined by Senator Chuck Schumer, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Congressmen Goldman and Menendez were joined at today’s press conference by Congressman Jerry Nadler, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and local advocates.
“Non-essential helicopter flights are a blight on quality of life for our communities on the waterfront,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “The voluntary agreements that the FAA and NPS entered into with air tour operators do not adequately address the pressing concerns of New Yorkers about noise pollution. I am glad to be joined by Congressman Menendez in leading our colleagues in a bicameral request for the FAA and NPS to properly address these very real and reasonable concerns.”
“I will continue to stand up for the families residing in the 8th District who live under non-essential helicopter flight paths, as well as all those who visit Liberty State Park - our beloved urban oasis,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “The NPS and FAA’s air tour agreements will push highly disruptive helicopter traffic towards our communities, which is something we cannot and will not allow. I look forward to working with Rep. Goldman, and our New Jersey and New York colleagues, to reach a solution that works for all of our neighbors - both here in New Jersey and in New York.”
Between 2017 and 2022, noise complaints regarding helicopters in New York City have increased by over 2,300 percent. Last year, the FAA and NPS entered into voluntary agreements with air tour operators for the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Governors Island National Monument. These voluntary agreements are less restrictive than the Air Tour Management Plans that govern other NPS units.
Under these voluntary agreements, there are no limits on the number of air tours that can operate and no restrictions on the hours these air tours can operate. These tours are also allowed to travel near residential areas at low altitudes of 500 feet.
These loose regulations have not adequately addressed the concerns of New Yorkers regarding noise and air pollution emitting from these non-essential helicopter flights.
Congressman Goldman and fellow members of the New York and New Jersey delegations, Rep. Robert Menendez, Senator Chuck Schumer, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, and Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., sent a letter to the FAA and NPS requesting answers to several questions regarding the air management tour voluntary agreements and community concerns.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said, “It is time that the Federal Aviation Administration and National Parks Service address the concerns of New Yorkers who are sick of bearing the brunt of nearly 30,000 annual tourist helicopter trips whirling over their skies. Last week, the City delayed a hearing on a contract for the Downtown Manhattan Heliport that presents a window to drastically reduce the number of helicopters flying over the East River and improve quality of life. We urge our national and city partners to finally listen to New Yorkers over the deafening noise of these helicopters and regulate tourist trips.”
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said, “Thousands of non-essential helicopters fly over us every week, and because of our failure to take adequate action, our people have been dealing with the consequences. Whether it’s the dangerously deafening roar of blades whirring over our parks or the massive amounts of pollution that fill our air, the helicopters that fly our skies are not right for New York. I’m grateful to Congressman Dan Goldman and Congressman Rob Menendez for leading this charge for a healthier, cleaner city.”
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, "Thank you to Congressman Dan Goldman for prioritizing this issue in Washington and to Jerry Nadler for his yearslong leadership in the fight to Stop the Chop. Last year, I was proud to sponsor legislation with Assembly Member Dick Gottfried called the Stop the Chop Act (S7493) that would have significantly curtailed helicopter flights over New York City, especially the west side of Manhattan. We passed the bill through both houses of the Legislature with overwhelming, bipartisan margins. Sadly, the Governor vetoed our bill because she was afraid of federal preemption, which shows we need federal action, and we need it now."
State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “Our communities deserve better than having to deal with the endless noise pollution that frequent non-essential helicopter rides bring. Our neighborhoods deserve answers as to why these rides go unregulated, and we will keep working until we get them."
Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “The proliferation of helicopters has created a wild west of the skies, devoid of regulations and with no concern for local residents. I applaud Congressmen Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler for their efforts to bring peace to our waterfronts and neighborhoods.”
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “Non-essential helicopter flights are way beyond a public nuisance–they are disrupting people’s ability to work, study, sleep, and simply live their lives. It is appalling that the public’s clear input to reduce the noise and air pollution of non-essential flights has been ignored, and that the FAA and NPS agreements with air tour operators could yield even more, and lower-flying, helicopter traffic. That traffic is increasingly high-priced commuter and tourism flights for the ultra wealthy at the expense of our constituents' health and safety. I’m grateful to Congressman Goldman for advocating for the community and seeking more information on the completed air management tour voluntary agreements.”
Assemblymember Deborah Glick said, “Our communities along the west side of Manhattan have been subjected to an inordinate amount of noise for many years, and it is time for the intrusions to stop. I applaud our Congressional leaders for taking action and working to mitigate this unnecessary noise pollution.”
Assemblymember Bobby Carroll said, “The proliferation of helicopter flights over the City harm both our environment and our health. Helicopters spew out carbon at a rate over forty times that of cars. With more people working from home helicopter noise complaints to 311 are at an all-time high and complaints from my constituents have increased substantially. These non-essential nuisance flights are magnified exponentially over the New York Harbor and the Federal Aviation Administration and National Park Service must listen to the people who live in the most impacted areas and take action now to appropriately tighten regulations and answer the questions set forth in Congressmember Goldman’s letter,”
City Councilmember Erik Bottcher said, “Noise from unnecessary helicopter trips isn’t just rude and inconsiderate, it actually harms people’s physical and mental health. Addressing this problem on a regional level is a holistic solution that ensures it will finally be solved. I’m grateful to Congressman Goldman, Congressman Nadler, and all of our colleagues for their focus on this critical issue.”
City Councilmember Gale A. Brewer said, “Helicopter noise is a persistent disturbance caused by investor-backed companies shepherding tourists and wealthy travelers through the sky. We must prioritize the health and well-being of New Yorkers, businesses and attractions by eliminating non-essential helicopter flights over the city. Since federal regulations limit the city’s ability to regulate its own airspace, congressional action is essential.”
City Councilmember Lincoln Restler said, “New Yorkers should not be forced to suffer from helicopter noise pollution just so tourists can get a better view. And the climate impacts of helicopter travel can no longer be ignored. I’ve introduced legislation to eliminate non-essential helicopter flights at New York City helipads, but we need federal intervention to more fully solve this environmental and quality of life problem”
Melissa Elstein, Coalition Organizer, Board Chair, and Secretary of Stop the Chop NY/NJ said, “Stop the Chop NY/NJ, a nonprofit grassroots environmental organization, thanks Congressmember Dan Goldman (as well as the other New York and New Jersey electeds joining him) for taking the lead regarding the newly created and seriously flawed air tour sightseeing plans for the New York Harbor recently implemented by the National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration. We do not support these new Voluntary Air Tour Agreements, drafted by the local helicopter industry along with these government agencies, for the following reasons: 1) there was industry bias in creating this plan and a disregard of the thousands of uniformly negative public comments submitted; 2) the plans have no numerical caps, which will likely result in more helicopter traffic, not less; 3) the new flight boundaries will have the ironic and unfortunate negative effect of noisy, polluting sightseeing helicopters flying closer to NYC residents along the Brooklyn and Manhattan waterfronts, subjecting them to harmful noise and air pollution; 4) the new plans are not an Air Tour Management Plan and thus did not require an environmental review -- New York and New Jersey residents deserve such a review as the many other recent national air tour plans required; 5) the plan will create more helicopter noise and pollution over waterfront parks such as Battery Park, Governors Island, and Liberty State Park; and 6) the plan ignores the fact that helicopter complaints via 311 have recently skyrocketed to become one of New Yorkers’ top quality of life complaints, and the fact that multiple pending bills are at all levels of government (including three Congressional bills) intended to reduce or ban nonessential helicopter traffic in the NYC metro area -- not increase it!”
Lara Birnback, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Heights Association said, “Unessential helicopter flights pose a clear threat to our environment, public health, and quality of life. Brooklyn’s waterfront communities have been plagued for years by these noisy and completely unnecessary intrusions into our parks, our public spaces, and our homes. In recent years, the problem has spread to virtually the entire borough with flights traveling directly over cultural treasures like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and thousands of homes in Flatbush, Crown Heights, and other parts of Central Brooklyn. The BHA thanks Representatives Goldman, Nadler, and our New York State Representatives for calling attention to the concerns of our communities related to the regulation or seeming lack thereof on the part of the FAA and NPS through the voluntary agreements with air tour operators."
Read the letter here.
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