Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition

Citizens seeking relief from helicopter noise – A problem for more than 40 years

LAAHNC, Post Office Box 571448, Tarzana, CA 91357-1448 page 1 of 9

LAHelicopterNoise.org

President

Bob Anderson

Sherman Oaks 

Homeowners Association

Vice President

Richard Root

Citizens for Quiet 

Helicopters (Torrance)

Treasurer

Dave Garfinkle

Tarzana Property Owners 

Association

George Abrahams

Beachwood Canyon 

Neighborhood Association

John Bailey

Southeast Torrance 

Homeowners Association

Gerry Hans

Friends of Griffith Park

David Rankell

Van Nuys Airport 

Citizens Advisory Council

Mike Savidan

Councilman, City of Lomita

Donna Sievers

Bluff Heights (Long Beach) 

Neighborhood Association

Gerald A. Silver

Homeowners of Encino

Rudy Whitcomb

Rolling Hills Estates

Wayne Williams

Van Nuys Airport 

Citizens Advisory Council

October 20, 2015

US Department of Transportation – Document Operations

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

West Building Ground Floor

Room W12-140

Washington, DC 20590

PETITION NO. 02 – SPECIAL FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION (SFAR) FOR 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – HELICOPTER HOVER/ORBIT RESTRICTIONS

This Petition for rulemaking is filed pursuant to Section 11.61 of 14 CFR, on behalf of the 

Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition, herein referenced as “LAAHNC”. LAAHNC is 

an unincorporated non-profit association seeking to address helicopter noise and safety issues 

in Los Angeles County.

Helicopter noise in Los Angeles County has been a concern to residents for many years.

LAAHNC has worked closely with the FAA, numerous elected officials, the public and the 

helicopter industry to address helicopter noise and safety issues affecting Los Angeles County 

residents. LAAHNC members have participated in 57 major and working group meetings 

with the FAA and pilot stakeholders since December 2012.

The cooperative efforts between the FAA, aviation associations, airport managers, and aircraft 

operators have failed to produce significant, meaningful results. LAAHNC does not believe 

these helicopter noise and safety issues can be resolved without the introduction of Special 

Federal Aviation Regulations (SFARs) for Los Angeles County.

The attached Petition was prepared through a joint Board effort of the LAAHNC based our 

analysis and assessment of the failed efforts to resolve the significant noise and safety 

problems plaguing Los Angeles County. The decision to proceed with this Petition was the 

result of a unanimous vote by our Board.

Please note that this Rule Change Petition is the second of four being filed by LAAHNC.

LAAHNC requests that the FAA treat each Petition submission as a discrete entity evaluating 

it fully on its merits and adhering to the Administrative Procedures Act and that the evaluation 

not be arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion per 5 U.S.C. Sec. 706(1).

Please provide all replies and communications regard this matter to:

Gerald A. Silver, (818) 990-2757, email: gsilver4@earthlink.net

George Abrahams (323) 463-9209, email: ggg@copper.net

Cordially yours,

Bob Anderson, President

Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition (LAAHNC)
PETITION NO. 02 – Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for Los Angeles County

Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

LAAHNC page 2 of 9

Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition (LAAHNC)

Post Office Box 571448

Tarzana, CA 91357-1448

Please provide all replies and communications regard this matter to:

Gerald A. Silver, (818) 990-2757, email: gsilver4@earthlink.net

George Abrahams (323) 463-9209, email: ggg@copper.net

October 20, 2015

US Department of Transportation – Document Operations

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

West Building Ground Floor

Room W12-140

Washington, DC 20590

PETITION NO. 02

SPECIAL FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION (SFAR) FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY

HELICOPTER HOVER/ORBIT RESTRICTIONS

This Petition for rulemaking is filed pursuant to Section 11.61 of 14 CFR, on behalf of the Los Angeles 

Area Helicopter Noise Coalition, herein referenced as “LAAHNC”. LAAHNC is an unincorporated 

non-profit association seeking to address helicopter noise and safety issues in Los Angeles County, 

herein referenced as the “County.” LAAHNC represents a Southern California area with a population 

of more than ten million residents. LAAHNC has worked closely with the FAA, numerous elected 

officials, the public and the helicopter industry to address helicopter noise and safety issues affecting 

Los Angeles County residents. 

LAAHNC members have participated in 57 major and working group meetings with the FAA and pilot 

stakeholders since December 2012. LAAHNC proposed numerous methods for reducing helicopter 

noise and has worked with pilots and the FAA to address helicopter flights in the County’s 

complicated airspace. In spite of these extensive efforts LAAHNC has been unable to reach voluntary 

agreements that would bring substantial reductions in helicopter noise to Los Angeles County. 

LAAHNC does not believe these helicopter noise and safety issues can be resolved without the 

introduction of Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFARs) for Los Angeles County.

Authority for this Rulemaking

The FAA has broad authority and responsibility to regulate the operation of aircraft, the use of the 

navigable airspace and to establish safety standards for and regulate the certification of airmen, 

aircraft, and air carriers (49 U.S.C. 40104 et seq., 40103(b)). The FAA’s authority for this rule is 

contained in 49 U.S.C. 40103 and 44715. Under § 40103, the Administrator of the FAA has authority 

to “prescribe air traffic regulations on the flight of aircraft (including regulations on safe altitudes) for 

* * * (B) protecting individuals and property on the ground. (49 U.S.C. 40103(b)(2)). In addition, 

§ 44715(a), provides that to “relieve and protect the public health and welfare from aircraft noise,” the 

Administrator of the FAA, “as he deems necessary, shall prescribe * * * (ii) regulations to control and 

abate aircraft noise * * *”
PETITION NO. 02 – Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for Los Angeles County

Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

LAAHNC page 3 of 9

Need for Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) to Require Helicopter Hover/Orbit 

Restrictions in Los Angeles County

Helicopter noise in Los Angeles County has been a concern to residents for many years. Voluntary 

measures by helicopter pilots to avoid of noise-sensitive areas in Los Angeles County have been 

ineffective. Cooperative efforts between the FAA, aviation associations, airport managers and aircraft 

operators have failed to satisfactory address helicopter noise problems. This has created the need for 

Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFARs) for Los Angeles County.

In response to ongoing complaints about helicopter noise, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

solicited input from local communities and other stakeholders on helicopter noise and safety issues. On 

May 31, 2013, the FAA published the Report on the Los Angeles Helicopter Noise Initiative.

In the report, the FAA expressed support for voluntary noise abatement measures developed by 

engaged stakeholders and the FAA at the local level and supported by local consensus. The FAA 

recommended engaging in a local process aimed at reducing helicopter noise that was responsive to 

community quality-of-life and economic interests that was consistent with National Airspace System 

(NAS) safety and efficiency.

In January 2014, based on the FAA’s May 31, 2013 Report, Congress included language in the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-76 (Jan. 3. 2014), directing the FAA to 

undertake the following six actions: 

1. Evaluate and adjust existing helicopter routes above Los Angeles to lessen noise impacts and 

make adjustments to such routes if the adjustments would lessen impacts on residential areas and 

noise-sensitive landmarks; 

2. Analyze whether helicopters could fly safely at higher altitudes in certain areas above Los 

Angeles County; 

3. Develop and promote best practices for helicopter operators for helicopter hovering and 

electronic news gathering; 

4. Conduct outreach to helicopter operators to inform them of voluntary policies and to increase 

awareness of noise sensitive areas and events; 

5. Work with stakeholders to develop a more comprehensive noise complaint system; and 

6. Continue to participate in collaborative engagement between community representatives and 

helicopter operators.

The legislation stated that within one year of enactment, the Secretary “shall begin a regulatory 

process related to the impact of helicopter use on the quality of life and safety of the people of Los 

Angeles County unless the Secretary can demonstrate significant progress in undertaking the actions.”

This proposed SFAR is consistent with the legislative mandate. The FAA has worked for more than a 

year with various stakeholders to implement these six actions. Unfortunately little or no demonstrable 

progress has been achieved on these issues. Voluntary practices of helicopter pilots to avoid noisesensitive areas have repeatedly failed to produce results. The Petitioner believes that positive results 

cannot be made through the collaborative process alone. 

Local law enforcement has identified opportunities to fly neighborly when operations permit. 

However, they have not agreed to any voluntary measures and there are no meaningful changes in their 

helicopter Federal practices to reduce noise. Other helicopter operators have developed a brochure 
PETITION NO. 02 – Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for Los Angeles County

Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

LAAHNC page 4 of 9

detailing local “hot spots” for the pilot community. The brochure was developed by helicopter pilots 

unilaterally, rather than through the collaborative process, and it simply reiterates long standing 

practices that have been ineffective in reducing noise impacts.

The FAA began operating a new Automated Complaint System on April 1, 2015 and is beginning to 

collect helicopter complaints across Los Angeles County. This does not in itself reduce helicopter 

noise. It simply underscores the growing noise problems. Since its inception in April 2015, between 

6,500 and 8,000 complaints have been filed each month using the system. The number has been 

increasing, with 7,958 complaints filed in August 2015. LAAHNC is also concerned this system will 

not be continued or consistently promoted to the public in order to acquire sufficient resident 

complaint data for an accurate reading of the noise problem.

The Petitioner believes that all reasonable and collaborative efforts to address helicopter noise and 

safety problems have failed. The only remaining means to resolve these issues are by imposing Special 

Federal Aviation Regulations (SFARs) for Los Angeles County. The purpose of this Petition is to 

resolve the problems that have not been adequately addressed by the aforementioned efforts.

The Proposed Language for a New Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR)

This Petition is to amend Section 91.119 of Part 91 of 14 CFR pertaining to minimum safe altitudes 

over congested, urban areas in Los Angeles County. The following language shall be appended to 

Section 91.119 of Part 91 of 14 CFR:

A. Restrictions involving media and other helicopter coverage.

(a) When an emergency or other event occurs in Los Angeles County that that involves a major 

freeway incident, significant crime scene investigation, fire, earthquake, flood, disaster or other 

broad scale infrastructure failure or other events, such as a Presidential visit, tracking of media 

personalities, coverage of criminal activities and outdoor venues that draws a large number of 

helicopters to the scene in Los Angeles County, helicopters covering the incident shall abide by the 

following flight restrictions: 

(b) Maximum helicopter hovering, orbiting limitations in Los Angeles County – Except when 

necessary or in an emergency or due to weather conditions or if otherwise necessary for safety of 

flight, or unless otherwise authorized by the Flight Standards District Office for a purpose listed in 

Section 3(b), no media outlet may hover or orbit a helicopter in the Special Flight Rules Area for 

periods longer than five (5) minutes, during any one-hour period.

(c) Maximum number of media helicopters that may hover or orbit at one location at the same time 

– Except when necessary or in an emergency or due to weather conditions or if otherwise 

necessary for safety of flight, or unless otherwise authorized by the Flight Standards District Office 

for a purpose listed in Section 3(b), no more than two media helicopters may hover or orbit in the 

same location during any one-hour period.

(d) Helicopters operated by any municipal, county, state or federal authority for active emergency 

services, rescue operations, police or fire protection, may hover or orbit if the operation is 

conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. 

B. Restrictions involving tour helicopter operators

(a) When a tour helicopter is operated in Los Angeles County it shall abide by the following flight 

restrictions:
PETITION NO. 02 – Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for Los Angeles County

Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

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(b) Maximum helicopter hovering, orbiting limitations in Los Angeles County – Except when 

necessary or in an emergency or due to weather conditions or if otherwise necessary for safety of 

flight, or unless otherwise authorized by the Flight Standards District Office for a purpose listed in 

Section 3(b), no tour operator may not hover or orbit a helicopter in the Special Flight Rules Area 

for a period longer than three (3) minutes, during any one-hour period.

(c) A tour helicopter covering a specific location may not return to the same location to hover or 

orbit more than once in any given five (5) hour period.

Arguments in Support of this Petition 

The Petitioner believes that this Petition is consistent with the National Airspace System (NAS), is 

reasonable and in the public interest. It will do the following: 

1. Increase the safety of helicopter operations by reducing hazards from helicopters hovering or 

orbiting over or near major freeway incidents, significant crime scene investigations, fires, 

earthquakes or other critical events.

2. Provide the Federal Aviation Administration greater authority to control media helicopter traffic 

over major freeway incidents, significant crime scene investigations, fires, earthquake or other 

critical events.

3. Not unduly burden helicopter operators with increased costs or loss of efficiency. 

4. Minimize the intrusion of helicopters that interfere with the orderly operation of public service 

agencies, prevent interference with other helicopter traffic, and protect the public health, safety 

and general welfare of residents and other persons within Los Angeles County.

5. Significantly reduce the noise impact from helicopter operations for more than ten million Los 

Angeles County residents.

The Proposed SFAR Will Improve Safety and Police Efficiency by Managing Helicopter Media 

and Tour Coverage in Los Angeles County

Low flying, hovering and orbiting helicopters are a danger and nuisance to residents living in Los 

Angeles County. They deprive residents of the peaceful enjoyment of their property. Helicopters that 

hover or orbit in Los Angeles County air space result in serious discomfort, inconvenience and 

interference with the use and enjoyment of private property. Residents repeatedly complain of 

helicopter noise drowning out normal conversation, vibrating walls of homes, disturbing sleep, 

inability to hear or understand speech or television, radio, and telephone conversations.

Televised coverage of car chases in Los Angeles County has exploded over the last dozen years. This 

has resulted in many media outlets dispatching helicopters and interrupting scheduled programming to 

offer live blow-by-blow footage of runaway drivers engaged in car chases. Much of this coverage in 

accomplished by hovering or orbiting over one location. A battery of Internet entrepreneurs have 

developed an ancillary industry built around notifying police pursuit fans when a chase begins and 

which channels to watch it on. 

Los Angeles has become the world capital of police car chases, with more than 1,000 pursuits annually 

in the city, most of them offering hours of live television coverage. High-speed car chases are 

recognized as a road safety problem, as vehicles not involved in the pursuit may be hit by the elusive 

driver, who will often violate a number of traffic laws, often repeatedly, in their attempt to escape, or 

by the pursuing police cars. Car chases occur when a suspect uses a vehicle to escape from law 
PETITION NO. 02 – Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for Los Angeles County

Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

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enforcement while attempting to avoid arrest. The assumed offence committed may range from minor 

traffic infractions to felonies as serious as murder. When the suspect realizes that they have been 

spotted by law enforcement, they attempt to lose their pursuers by driving away, sometimes at high 

speed – all caught on video. After a chase it is common practice for media helicopters to remain over 

the scene for extended periods of time.

Los Angeles television station KCAL reported a quadrupling of ratings when police pursuits are aired. 

Police officials have asked news media to reduce coverage of chases, claiming that they encourage 

suspects to flee and inciting gawkers to possibly get in the way of the pursuit. The media claims that 

coverage of chases provides a public service and is a deterrent to police brutality. This Petition does 

not seek to stop media helicopter coverage of an event, but assures that coverage is provided in a safe 

and responsible manner.

Unregulated Media Helicopter Coverage Is Unsafe

Unregulated helicopter coverage is dangerous to helicopter operators, as well as people on the ground. 

On July 27, 2007 two helicopters crashed in mid air over Phoenix, Arizona while covering a police 

pursuit. Four people were killed: KTVK pilot Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox; and pilot 

Craig Smith and photographer Rick Krolak of KNXV. No one on the ground was injured. This tragic 

event could have been prevented had media pooling been in place. 

Los Angeles officials urged television stations to curb their coverage of police car chases that have 

become a major source of entertainment in Los Angeles County. The growing popularity of high-speed 

pursuits in Los Angeles County with its sprawling urban landscape crisscrossed by a tangle of 

highways and long boulevards is endangering lives. Former Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn said that the 

televising of chases encouraged lawbreakers. “They are life-and-death situations that put drivers, 

police officers, pedestrians, other innocent members of the community at risk.” Hahn and former Los 

Angeles Police Department Chief William Bratton sent a letter to directors of local news stations 

asking them to reduce their live coverage of what has become near a daily phenomenon in the city. 

On September 28, 2012, Fox News aired a live police chase in Arizona that ended in the suspect 

shooting himself in the head. Fox News was airing it in a five-second delay instead of a normal tensecond delay, which resulted in the shooting being aired on a live broadcast of the Fox Report. Shepard 

Smith soon apologized for the broadcast and vowed to never let it happen again. The compelling 

nature of car chases is summed up by the following comment from a Los Angeles County resident: “I 

have to be honest, whenever I see a chase I just have to sit and watch.”

Case Histories of Media Coverage Illustrate Need for a SFAR

Below are several short case histories that illustrate situations where media helicopters were orbiting or 

hovering over an event that caused huge disruptions to the public, impeded public safety or interfered 

with police, fire or other public service activities. The list below spans many decades and illustrates the 

ongoing need to regulate media helicopter hovering and orbiting over Los Angeles County.

1. Westwood Water Main Break. On January 21, 2015 a large 6-inch water main broke in Westwood 

sending a huge volume of water coursing through city streets. The Los Angeles Department of 

Transportation was quickly on scene to help with road closures, including Sunset Boulevard. The 

deluge of water flooded neighboring streets. The water main break was just north of the UCLA 

campus, causing extensive damage and requiring shutting down Sunset Boulevard for days. During 

this closure period dozens of media helicopters orbited and hovered over Sunset Boulevard and 

nearby residences causing endless hours of noisy, unnecessary disturbance. The disruptions and 
PETITION NO. 02 – Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for Los Angeles County

Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

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nuisance could have easily been prevented or minimized by placing restrictions on media helicopter 

hovering and orbiting. 

2. Carmageddon 405 Freeway Closure, July 16-17, 2011. “Carmageddon” was the name Los Angeles 

residents gave the inevitable epic traffic tie-up that resulted when a ten-mile stretch of the 405 

Freeway was closed in both directions between the 101 and 10 freeways for construction. The 405 

Freeway carries about 281,000 cars per day. The closure impacted two of the nation’s busiest 

interchanges. The unprecedented 53-hour shutdown delayed motorists for hours on alternate routes 

with ripple effects on dozens other major highways and alternative routes, as crews demolished a 

bridge as part of a $1 billion freeway-widening project. During this closure period dozens of media 

helicopters orbited and hovered over the freeway causing hundreds of hours of noisy, unnecessary 

disturbances to residents. This event was predictable many months in advance. The disruptions and 

nuisance could have easily been prevented or minimized by implementing media helicopter 

hovering and orbiting limits. A year later, when the second half of the bridge was removed, the 

media industry did implement a media pooling of helicopter coverage that significantly limited the 

impact on residents, but this practice was not formalized for future events as example number 1 

above shows. 

3. The Lakers’ Victory Riot June 19, 2000. The 1999-2000 NBA season ended up being fortuitous for 

the Los Angeles Lakers, who were in their inaugural year playing out of the Staples Center. On the 

night of June 19, 2000, the Lakers beat the visiting Indiana Pacers, winning their first Championship 

in twelve years. While the game took place inside the arena, it was broadcast for free outside on a 

large video screen. Thousands gathered to watch the game on the screen in the proximity of the 

arena. As soon as the game ended, the crowd quickly turned violent as opportunists began attacking 

property, making bonfires, beating up a Lincoln limo and two LAPD cars, flipping a news van, and 

setting fire to a Ford Explorer, as well as looting local businesses. All local media channels covered 

the riot live on television and in the air via helicopters. Again excessive noise was generated by the 

unregulated efforts of numerous media helicopters in the air. The disruptions and nuisance could 

have easily been prevented or minimized by implementing media helicopter hovering and orbiting 

limits. 

4. Democratic National Convention, August 14-17, 2000. Another example of unregulated helicopter 

media coverage occurred at the Democratic National Convention, August 14 to 17, 2000. In order to 

provide security from the large number of protestors around the Staples Center, Los Angeles 

Convention Center (which housed print and radio media), and the large media contingent housed 

outside in a “Media Village”, the LAPD, Los Angeles Fire Department and United States Secret 

Service designed a large secure zone surrounded by a perimeter fence consisting of K-rail barriers 

with a 10-foot fence rising up from it. The parking lots adjacent to the Staples Center were 

designated for the large Media Village (consisting of many trailers and media vehicles for the 

television press), transportation department vehicles, security checkpoints, as well as “VIP 

Vehicles” to be parked immediately in front of the Staples Center. A large number of protestors 

attended the event. As a result of this layout, the perimeter fence remained a city block away from 

the Staples Center, and placed the proposed space for the expected protestors (known as the “Protest 

Zone”) a substantial distance from the event they were protesting. All of the activities were covered 

by hovering or orbiting media helicopters, shooting video of protestors and other events downtown 

during the Convention, causing noise and disturbance to the surrounding community.

5. The North Hollywood shootout February 28, 1997. This incident involved a confrontation between 

two heavily armed and armored bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department in 
PETITION NO. 02 – Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for Los Angeles County

Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

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the North Hollywood. At 9:17 AM, Larry Phillips, Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu entered and robbed the 

North Hollywood Bank of America branch. Phillips and Mătăsăreanu were confronted by LAPD 

officers when they exited the bank and a shootout between the officers and robbers ensued. The two 

robbers attempted to flee the scene were killed, eleven police officers and seven civilians were 

injured, and numerous vehicles and other property were damaged or destroyed. Approximately 

1,750 rounds of ammunition were fired by the robbers and police. Most of the incident, including 

the death of Phillips and the death of Mătăsăreanu, was broadcast live by news helicopters, which 

hovered over the scene and televised the action as events unfolded. More than 300 law enforcement 

officers from various forces had responded to the citywide TAC alert. During this event dozens of 

media helicopter orbited and hovered over the scene generating hundreds of hours of noisy, 

unnecessary disturbances to residents and interfering with police work.

6. Brown/Goldman Murders. At 12:10 a.m. on June 13, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald 

Goldman were found murdered outside Brown’s Bundy Drive condo in the Brentwood area of Los 

Angeles. Evidence found and collected at the scene led police to suspect that O. J. Simpson was the 

murderer. Lawyers convinced the LAPD to allow Simpson to turn himself in at 11 a.m. on June 17, 

1994, even though the double murder charge meant no bail and a possible death penalty verdict if 

convicted. More than 1,000 reporters waited for Simpson at the police station, but he failed to 

appear. At 2 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department issued an all-points bulletin for Simpson. 

This event caused dozens of media helicopters to orbit and hover over the Bundy Drive condo in 

Brentwood, causing hundreds of hours of noisy, unnecessary disturbances to residents.

7. O.J. Simpson 405 Freeway Incident. Another example occurred on June 17, 1994 when O.J. 

Simpson, hiding in a white Ford Bronco was driven by a friend down the 405 Freeway, moving at a 

slow speed. The police pursued the Bronco moving at a low-speed pace, attracted dozens of media 

helicopters. While dozens of car chases and crime scene stories followed by helicopters unfolded on 

Los Angeles freeways, this event remains one of the strangest, most unforgettable collisions of 

news, crime, and celebrity in TV history. The media coverage was incredible as a battery of media 

helicopters hovered over the slow speed chase for hours until its conclusion and the arrest of Mr. 

Simpson.

Los Angeles County Is Unique and Requires a SFAR

At 4,083 square miles, Los Angeles County with more than 10 million residents is larger than the 

combined areas of the states of Rhode Island and Delaware. The county seat is Los Angeles, the 

second-largest city in the United States. Los Angeles County is home to hundreds of based helicopters 

operated by police, fire, Sheriff, government, media, tour operators, paparazzi and others. An SFAR is 

necessary to control the impact of this over-concentration of helicopters. 

Los Angeles County is unique to all other parts of the country. The Los Angeles Police Department has 

a fleet of 19 helicopters, the largest of any police force in the nation. They routinely have at least two 

helicopters on patrol over the City sixteen hours a day. The Los Angeles Fire Department has 

6 helicopters that routinely service the Los Angeles area. The Los Angeles County Sheriff has 

14 helicopters, Burbank/Glendale 3, El Monte 3, Hawthorne 1, Long Beach 2 and Pasadena 4. In 

addition helicopters are flown over Los Angeles County by the California Highway Patrol, Federal 

Agencies, news gathering and traffic reporting organizations, other neighboring cities, EMS 

medical/hospitals, other City and County Fire Departments, civilian Federal schools, bank check 

couriers, air charter, air taxi and utility services and the military. Los Angeles County has without 

question the most concentrated and ubiquitous helicopter operations in the nation. 
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Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

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Los Angeles County is founded upon the automobile and the car culture with its inherent massive 

traffic problems. Dozens of media outlets provide video and audio traffic reports each day 

predominately from helicopters. Raw video coverage of wild police pursuits is a daily occurrence. 

Much of this is from low-flying helicopters that hover or orbit over incidents and interfere with active 

police investigations and patrols.

Los Angeles County is home to the rich and famous. Their backyards, swimming pools, weddings, 

events and activities are covered endlessly from the air by paparazzi, radio, television and other media. 

The County is home to over 30 helicopter tour operators that fly approximately 85 helicopters from 

twelve airports at low altitudes throughout the day and night. They hover and orbit to view Hollywood 

– the entertainment capital of the world – the Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, Southern California 

Coastline, Rodeo Drive, movie stars homes, Playboy Mansion, Pacific beaches, Hollywood Walk of 

Fame, Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Kodak/Dolby Theatre home to the Oscars, Grauman’s 

Chinese, Universal City Walk, Venice Beach, Zuma Beach, Rose Bowl, Hollywood Bowl and of 

course the affluent Malibu colony. No other part of the country has that much helicopter air coverage 

in one county.

The Costs and Benefits Weigh in Favor of the Proposed SFAR

The proposed SFAR will not impose any significant recordkeeping or reporting burden on the 

helicopter industry, nor on the FAA. It will not negatively affect small businesses, small organizations, 

small governmental jurisdictions or any Indian tribes. It will in fact have a positive impact on the 

quality of the natural and social environments in Los Angeles County. The Proposed SFAR conforms 

to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices to the 

maximum extent practicable. Implementation of this SFAR will not involve any of the extraordinary 

circumstances listed in Section 304 of FAA Order 1050.1E. The SFAR qualifies for the categorical 

exclusion identified in paragraph 312f of FAA Order 1050.1E. It will have no known negative 

environmental impacts and will in fact benefit noise-sensitive locations. 

The proposed SFAR does not contain any Federal intergovernmental or private sector mandates. 

Therefore, the requirements of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 do not apply. 

There are no Federalism Implications of this SFAR under the principles and criteria of Executive 

Order 13132, Federalism. The SFAR will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the 

relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various levels of government. This SFAR does not warrant the preparation 

of a Federalism Assessment.

The foregoing constitutes the summary that may be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER as 

provided under Subpart B.

Executed at Los Angeles, California on October 20, 2015

Bob Anderson, President

Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition (LAAHNC)

Info@LAHelicopterNoise.org