MAY 7
C RY D E R
P O I N T
Vallone calls for helicopter safety and noise regulations
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76 Northeast Queens’ representative
WWW.QNS.COM | MAY 2018 | CRYDER POINT COURIER 7
Exp .May 31st, 2018
in City Hall is urging the administration
to change the way
it monitors helicopter noise and safety.
Councilman Paul Vallone, who represents
areas including Bayside, Flushing
and Whitestone, chaired a hearing on the
issue on April 18.
The hearing was organized in the wake of
the March 12 helicopter crash into the East
River between the Upper East Side of Manhattan
and Astoria, which left five passengers
dead. The city has begun announcing
responsive measures, including a written
term agreement banning door-off helicopter
tour flights from operating out of the
Downtown Manhattan Heliport.
Still, Vallone, who also chairs the NYC
Economic Development (EDC) Committee,
is calling for more action. He urged
the city to include aviation noise pollution
in the city’s “Noise Code” as a means of
regulation.
Vallone also recently proposed a resolution
calling on the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to make changes
to the North Shore Helicopter Route,
which re-routed aircraft routes away from
Long Island and over much of northeast
Queens.
A number of local groups testified on
the environmental and health-related
effects helicopter traffic has on their
everyday lives. Michael Gannon, president
of the Douglas Manor Association,
said Douglaston is one of the areas of
Queens to “receive the brunt” of helicopter
traffic.
“While the noise and disruption to our
quality of life peaks on Friday and Sunday
during the summer vacation time period,
it remains a year-round problem,” Gannon
said.
Joe Femenia, president of the College
Point Civic and Taxpayers Association,
echoed these concerns. Aircraft noise has
impacted his neighborhood “for many
years,” he said, and increases during the
warmer months.
“Who do we bring to the table to tell the
8.5 million people of this city that they are
safe?” Vallone said. “It’s clear after today’s
hearing that the safety standards and operating
procedures for any helicopter in
New York City must be completely revisited,
as well as a complete analysis of the
economic impact the tourist helicopter
industry has on our city.”
A recent EDC analysis determined that
the sightseeing helicopter industry brings
in approximately $2-3 million in revenue
for the city, according to Vallone, who
questioned whether the profit is worth
the trade-offs.
The councilman indicated that legislation
will be drafted to codify aviation
noise into law.
“Now more than ever, we need to address
helicopter safety, operational procedures,
restrictions and what we can do
in regard to charter flights,” Vallone said.
“What exists today is clearly not working
for the people of NYC.”
Photo via Twitter/@NTSB_Newsroom
Helicopter that crashed in the East River in March being taken in tow
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