Legislative mandate for better helicopter regulation included in FAA funding bill

A funding reauthorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration expected to be passed by both chambers of Congress before the end of the month will include language requiring the agency to reassess the North Shore helicopter route to address noise impacts on affected communities, Rep. Lee Zeldin announced yesterday.

The language, which is contained in Section 182 of the funding bill, comes from legislation introduced by Zeldin that was passed the House of Representatives earlier this year.

It requires the FAA to hold a public hearing on the North Shore route in the communities impacted by helicopter flights and to open a public comment period on the route.

The last time the agency re-adopted rules regulating helicopter flights over Long Island, it did so on an “emergency” basis, without opening a public comment period and without holding any public hearings. That move surprised and incensed local residents and officials alike. See Aug. 22, 2016 story.

The new provisions also would require the FAA to assess noise impacts of the route regulations on communities — including communities in locations where air craft are transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing.

They also require the agency to enforce “applicable flight standards,” including requirements for helicopters to remain at altitudes or above 2,500 feet mean sea level.

Finally, the legislation requires the FAA to assess availability of alternative or supplemental routes to reduce noise impacts, including the institution of an all-water route over the Atlantic Ocean.

The House and Senate have come to an agreement for consideration of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Zeldin (R-Shirley) announced yesterday.

“Summer after summer, North Fork residents’ quality of life has suffered due to the persistent issue of helicopter noise on the East End,” Zeldin said in a press release.

“The FAA and Department of Transportation have sole jurisdiction over the aircraft routes that have impacted these communities, but from the route’s planning to its continued use, they have continued to flat-out ignore the residents directly affected,” he said.

“Congress must hold their feet to the fire and finally pass this legislation that requires the FAA to assess an all water route and alternatives to mitigate the impact on residents. I implore my colleagues to pass my proposal and ensure that those who call the North Fork home are finally being heard,” Zeldin said.

Riverhead Deputy Supervisor Tim Hubbard, the town board’s first liaison to its helicopter noise task force, said the announcement is “real good news.”

“It’s exactly what we were fighting for and what we wanted,” Hubbard said in a phone interview.

Hubbard said he and members of the task force, as well as anti-noise we knew it had to be handled legislatively.

“We have to make sure the FAA truly listens. Last time we didn’t get a fair shake with them,” Hubbard said.

Correction: As originally published this story incorrectly stated that Deputy Supervisor Tim Hubbard is currently the town board liaison to the helicopter task force. The current liaison is Councilwoman Catherine Kent. Hubbard was the first liaison to the task force, which was created in 2016.