Riverhead’s Helicopter Noise Task Force reconvened Thursday to discuss a reported renewed increase in low-flying helicopters over Wading River and other parts of town, as a federal rule pertaining to the route Hamptons-bound helicopters take approaches its July 29 expiration date.
Councilman Ken Rothwell, the Town Board liaison to the task force, reconvened the group, which hadn’t met publicly in several years, to discuss the current situation. Rothwell said the town’s immediate priorities were securing an extension of the Federal Aviation Administration North Shore Helicopter Route rule and pressing for stronger enforcement.
He said he had contacted the offices of Rep. Nick LaLota and Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand about extending the rule and addressing complaints that pilots are flying too low or cutting inland over residential neighborhoods.
“The first one is to ensure that the FAA renews the flight path,” Rothwell said. “And then we’re promising to work with them about enforcement.”
The North Shore Helicopter Route Rule generally directs helicopters traveling east along Long Island’s North Shore to remain offshore and fly at prescribed altitudes. Pilots may deviate from the route for safety, weather or when transitioning to or from a landing site.
Task force members said those exceptions, combined with limited enforcement, have allowed increasing numbers of helicopters to cross inland over Wading River and other communities.
John Cullen, who helped organize Riverhead’s aircraft noise committee and has worked on the issue for years, said helicopter traffic once heavily affected his Northville neighborhood before operators began using South Shore and all-water routes more frequently.
More: Helicopter noise still disrupting quality of life, task force chairperson says (Aug. 5, 2019)
Cullen said Wading River has since become a common crossing point for helicopters headed toward East Hampton, Francis S. Gabreski Airport and other East End destinations.
“Our goal here today is to try to get them back out on the Orient run, out and around away from Wading River,” Cullen said.
He said some operators continue to follow offshore routes, while others take shorter inland paths to save time and fuel.
Terese McKaskie of the Southold Town Aircraft Noise Committee described the shifting flight patterns as a “whack-a-mole situation,” with traffic moving from one community to another as complaints increase.
McKaskie said the existing rule does not prohibit all inland crossings because pilots operating under visual flight rules may transition toward an airport under certain circumstances. She said voluntary agreements with helicopter operators have provided some relief in the past but have not produced a lasting solution.
“If they want to accept this much traffic, they need to absorb more of the pain,” McKaskie said of East Hampton.
Councilwoman Denise Merrifield, a Wading River resident, said the town also needs to focus on traffic using Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach.
Merrifield said she was told Gabreski received approximately 7,000 aircraft-noise complaints during the past year. She said helicopters following the North Shore route are permitted to cross inland over Wading River while traveling to or from the airport.
She argued that the FAA should reconsider the route rather than simply extend it without changes.
Merrifield noted that earlier federal decisions concerning the route were made while East Hampton was considering closing or privatizing its airport. East Hampton Airport remains a public airport.
“I think it may be time to talk to them about a modification of this route,” Merrifield said. “I want them to consider being a little bit more generous with where they want people to cut across to go to Gabreski and not just make it Wading River.”
Cullen said Gabreski officials should encourage more helicopters to use South Shore routes rather than crossing over Wading River. He said he has raised the issue with airport officials and plans to continue doing so.
Residents in attendance asked town officials to push for mandatory offshore routing and altitude requirements rather than voluntary guidelines.
Rothwell said a representative of Gillibrand’s office told him the senator was interested in developing an enforcement plan.
Task force members cautioned, however, that pilots retain discretion to change altitude or routes for safety and weather conditions.
Several participants also expressed concern that the FAA had not publicly begun the process of extending the North Shore rule before its scheduled expiration.
The FAA has in the past extended the rule on an “emergency” basis, dispensing with the mandatory 30-day public comment period.
More: North shore helicopter route is here to stay for four more years: FAA moves to immediately extend rule through 2020 (July 23, 2016)
Joan Cear of the Greater Jamesport Civic Association said she had unsuccessfully attempted to reach the FAA’s Northeast regional administrator and urged the Town Board to contact the agency directly.
Rothwell said the town had initially decided to work through its congressional representatives but agreed that direct FAA outreach should also be considered.
Patricia Berry of Wading River, who raised complaints about helicopter noise at the Town Board’s July 7 meeting, which led to Rothwell convening Thursday’s task force meeting, noted that the FAA had initiated a federal rulemaking that would have made the North Shore Helicopter Route Rule permanent by removing its expiration date. But the modification was not adopted and the rule as implemented in 2022 is set to expire July 29.
Officials repeatedly urged residents to file detailed aircraft-noise complaints.
Rothwell said the town has updated the helicopter task force page on its website with a complaint form and contact information for elected officials. Residents can submit complaints to the town and to the airports involved.
Merrifield said residents using automated aircraft-noise reporting apps should also call or email airport officials and describe how the aircraft affected them.
“It’s just data” when a complaint is submitted automatically, Merrifield said. “You call up and you tell them your personal experience.”
Residents asked the town to add a direct link to Gabreski Airport’s complaint system and information about the AirNoise reporting app to the town website. Rothwell agreed that the Gabreski link could be added.
Phil Drower of Wading River, who participated remotely, said some helicopters affecting the area originate at facilities in Bridgeport and New York City. He suggested the town explore whether complaints could also be directed to those facilities.
The discussion also included helicopters serving Peconic Bay Medical Center.
Marie Domenici of Riverhead, who lives in a condominium community off Middle Road near the hospital, said medical helicopters had resumed circling at low altitudes over nearby homes after a previous change in procedures had reduced the problem.
Rothwell said the town would contact Peconic Bay Medical Center President Amy Loeb to determine whether holding patterns could be adjusted or conducted at higher altitudes.
Officials distinguished emergency medical and police flights from the private and commercial helicopter traffic that is the task force’s principal concern.
Supervisor Jerry Halpin said he would contact the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association about preparing a letter to federal officials. A similar coordinated effort was undertaken during earlier helicopter-route disputes.
Councilwoman Joann Waski said aircraft noise is also affecting Jamesport, where residents experience jet traffic associated with Gabreski Airport.
“This is an issue that is Wading River, Riverhead, Jamesport,” Waski said. “All of us are affected by this.”
The task force had largely gone dormant after helicopter traffic declined over the neighborhoods where its original members lived. Cullen said the committee would benefit from additional participation by Wading River residents now experiencing the greatest impact.
Rothwell said the Town Board would formally renew the appointments of the task force members and reconvene the committee next month.
Officials said they expect to report then on the status of the FAA rule, contacts with federal officials and efforts to improve enforcement and modify flight patterns.
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