## 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 t he 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 iss ues 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 re solve 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 discretio n 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. Silv er, (818) 990

- 2757, email: gsilver4@earthlink.net George Abrahams (323) 463

- 9209, email: ggg@copper.net

October 20 , 2015

US Department of Transportation

– Document Operati on s 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 a nd safety issues in Los Angeles County, herein referenced as the “County.” LAAHNC represents a Southern California a rea 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 b ring 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.

Authori ty 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 air men, 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 regulati ons 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 (SFA R) to Require Helicopter Hover/ Orbit

Restrictions in Los Angeles County

Helicopter noise in Los Ang eles 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 A viation Administration (FAA) solicited input from local communities and other stakeholders on helicopter noise and safety issues. On May 3 1, 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

com munity 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, P ub. 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 imp acts on residential area s 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 syst em; 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 h elicopter 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 noise

sensitive areas have repeatedly failed t o 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 volu ntary measures and there are no meaningful changes in their helicopter Federal practices to reduce noise. Other helicopter operators have develo ped a brochurePETITION 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 begi nning 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 file d 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 A viation 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 N ew Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR)

T his 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 lim itations 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 othe rwise 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) Maximu m number of media helicopters that may hover or orbit a t 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 Stan dards District Office for a purpose listed in Section 3(b), no more than two media helicopters may hover or orbit in the

same locat ion during any one

- hour period.

(d) Helicopters operated by any municipal, county, state or federal authority for active emer gency 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 invo lving 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

LAAHNC page 5 of 9 (b) Maximum helicopter hovering, orbiting limi tations in Los Angeles County

– Except when necessary or in an emergency or due to weather conditions or if otherwise necessary for sa fety 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, d uring 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 P etition 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 sc ene 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 fro m 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 C overage in Lo s 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 ai r 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 t o 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 s cheduled 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 buil t 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 pur suing police cars. Car chases occur when a suspect uses a vehicle to escape from lawPETITION NO. 02

– Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR ) for Los Angeles County Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

LAAHNC page 6 of 9 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 rea lizes 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 period s 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 poss ibly 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 I s U nsafe

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 Bowe rbank 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 c urb 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 me mbers of the community a t 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 New s 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 ten

second delay, which resulted in the shooting being aired on a live broadcast of the Fox Rep ort. 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 h ave to sit and watch.”

Case Histories of Media Coverage Illustrate N eed 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 hove red over Sunset Boulevard and nearby residences causing endless hours of noisy, unnecessary disturbance. The disruptions andPETITION NO. 02

– Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR ) for Los Angeles County Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

LAAHNC page 7 of 9 nuisance could have easily been prevented or minimized by placing restrictions on media helicopter hovering and orbiting.

2. Carma geddon 405 Freew ay Closure, July 16

- 17, 2011. “Carmageddon” was the name Los Angeles residents gave the inevitable epic traffi c tie

- up that resulted when a ten

- mile stretch of the 405 Freeway was closed in both directions between the 101 and 10 freeways fo r construction. The 405 Freeway carries about 281,000 cars per day. The clo sure 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

dist urbances 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 br idge 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 Laker s’ Victo ry 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 cro wd 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 covere d 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 implementin g 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 Conven tion, August 14 to 17, 2000. In order to provide sec urity 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 Vi llage” , the LAPD, Los Angeles Fire Department and United St ates 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 o f many trailers and media vehicles for the television press), transportation department vehicles, se curity 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 protest ors (known as the “Protest

Zone” ) a substantial distance from the event they were protesting. All of the a ctivities 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. T his incident involved a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers and officers of the Los Angeles Police Department inPETITION NO. 02

– Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR ) for Los Angeles County Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

LAAHNC page 8 of 9 the North Hollywood. At 9:17 AM, Larry Phillips, Jr. and Emil M ă t ă s ă reanu entered and robbed the North Hollywood B ank of America branch. Phillips and M ă t ă s ă reanu 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 civ ilians 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 M ă t ă s ă reanu, 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 o rbited 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 we re found mu rdered 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 deat h 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 Inci dent. 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

helico pters. 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 i ncredible 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, She riff, 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 fl eet 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 Lo s Angeles Fire Department has

6 helicopters that routinely service the Los Angeles area. T he Lo s 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 tra ffic 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 withou t question the most concentrated and ubiquitous helicopter operations in the nation.PETITION NO. 02

– Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR ) for Los Angeles County Helicopter Hover/Orbit Restrictions

LAAHNC page 9 of 9 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.

L os 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 t hat fly approximately 85 helicopters from twelve airports at low altitudes throughout the day and night. They hover and orbit to view Hollywood

– the entert ainment capital of the world

– the Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, Southern California Coastline, Rod eo 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 Bow l 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 P roposed 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 w ill 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 practic able. 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 Governme nt 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 u nder Subpart B.

Executed at Los A ngeles, California on October 20 , 2015

Bob Anderson, President Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition (LAAHNC) Info@LAHelicopterNoise.org