# ©

U.S

. Departmen t A . c , T. _u Airspac e Service s of Transportatio n 80 0 y n(tependcnc e Avc> f s w Federa l Aviatio n Washington , D C 2059 1 Administratio n MA Y2 0 201 6
Mr
. Bo b Anderso n Presiden t Lo s Angele s Are aHelicopte r Nois e Coalitio n (LAAHNC ) Pos t Offic e Bo x 57144 8 Tarzana , Californi a91357-144 8 Dear Mr
. Anderson : Thi s i s i n respons e t o you r lette r date dOctobe r

20 , 2015 , poste dt o th e publi c docke t (No

. FAA

2015-5041 ) petitionin g th e Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n (FAA ) t o initiat e rulemakin g t o amen dpar t

9 1 o f Titl e 1 4 Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s (1 4 CFR)

. I n you r petition , yo u reques t a n amendmen t

t o 1 4 CF R§ 91.11 9 pertainin g t o minimu msaf e altitude s ove r

congested , urban area s i n Lo s Angele s County

. I n accordanc e wit h1 4 CF R§ 11.73 , th e FA A consider s th e followin g criteri awhe n makin g a decisio n a s t o whethe r

o r no t t o amen dcurren t

regulation s base do n apetitio n for rulemaking : 1 ) Th e immediac y o f

th e safet y o r security concern s yo u raise ; 2 ) Th e priorit y o f

othe r issue s th e FA A mus t

deal with ; an d 3 ) Th e resource s w e hav e availabl e t o addres s thes e issues

. Eac hyear , th e FA A prioritize s it s rulemakin g project s base do n issue s tha t ar e crucia l t o th e safety o f th e aviatio n communit y an dth e travelin g publi c t o ensur e th e FA A deliver s th e mos t valu e t o th e aviatio n system
. I n accordanc e wit h1 4 CF R§ 11.73 , th e FA A i s dismissin g you r petitio n for

rulemaking

. Genera l discussio n o n th e petitio n received : Geographic , Topographi c an dClimat e Limitation s Th e geograph y tha t

Lo s Angele s County encompasse s i s a s divers e a s th e population

. Ther e ar e 1,87 5 squar e mile s o f

mountains , withth e highes t poin t locate d10,08 0 fee t

abov e se aleve l ato p Mt
. San Antonio , an d1,74 1 squar e mile s o f flatlan dtha t

include s alo w poin t

o f nin e fee t belo w se aleve l i n th e City o f

Wilmington

. Th e differenc e i n elevatio n betwee n th e Lo s Angele s Civi c Cente r an dth e surroundin g mountain s i s greate r tha n betwee n th e City o f Denve r an dit s surroundin g mountains

. Additionally, Lo s Angele s County include s 7 5 mile s o f mainlan d coastline , plu s a n additiona l 12 9 square mile s o f islands

. A s aresul t

o f th e influenc e o f

topograph y o n th e circulatio n o f marin e air , Lo s Angele s County' s climat e i s subjec t

t o wid e variation s withi n short distances

. Fo r

example , Sant aMonic aPie renjoy s anorma l Jul y maximu mtemperatur e o f aroun d75 ° F , whil e th e averag e temperatur e increase s t o 95 ° Fat

Canog aPark

i n th e Sa n Fernand o Valle y jus t

1 5 mile s t o th e north

. Lo s Angele s experience s tw o mai n an duniqu e weathe r patterns : "Jun e Gloom " an d"th e SantaAn a winds. " Th e firs t

refer s t o th e ocean fo g tha t keep s th e beac hcitie s (an dofte n al l o f th e Lo s Angele s Basin ) overcas t

int o earl y afternoo n an dmos t commo n i n June , bu t

ca n occu r

an y tim e betwee n Marc han dmid-August

. Th e middl e o f autum n (October-November ) ofte n bring s th e SantaAn awinds , strong , ho t wind s fromacros s th e desert tha t increas e brush-fir e dange r an d revers e th e prevailin g offshore winds

. Topograph y an dclimat e condition s pla y a n importan t rol e i n apilot' s decisio n whethe r t o fl y an dwhat

route s t o use , especiall y durin g th e haz y day s durin g th e "Jun e Gloom. " Reduce dvisibility an dlowe r clou dceiling s forc e visua l flight rule s (VFR ) helicopter s t o fly a t

lowe r altitudes

. Airspac e Complexit y i n Lo s Angele s County Souther n California' s airspac e i s extremel y comple x an dha s high-volum e ai r traffi c du e t o multipl e international , domesti c an dgeneral aviatio n airport s i n clos e proximit y t o on e another , militar y operations , an dflight trainin g activity

. Currentl y ther e ar e 2 7 airports (1 5 publi c use , 1 1 privat e us e an d1 privat e us e seaplan e base ) i n Lo s Angele s County with2 1 differen t airport sponsors . Additionally , ther e ar e 13 8 heliport s registere dwithth e FAA
. Althoug hsom e o f thes e ar e owne db y publi c entities , non e ar e publi c us e (i.e. , availabl e for us e b y th e genera l publi c withou t prio r approva l o f

th e owne r

o r operator)

. Throughou t

Lo s Angele s County ther e ar e als o numerou s unregistere dheliport s o n to p o f high-ris e building s for

emergenc y us e tha t

ar e regulate db y Lo s Angele s County o r municipa l fir

e codes

. Withi n Lo s Angele s Count y ther e ar e differen t type s o f "controlled " airspac e (Clas s A , B , C , D , o r E ) an d"uncontrolle dairspace " (Clas s G)

. Controlle dairspac e ha s define ddimensions , withi n whic hai r traffi c contro l (ATC ) service s ar e provide dt o al l instrumen t flight rule s (IFR ) operation s an dmay b e provide dt o VF R flights

. Advisor y AT C service s ma y b e provide di n uncontrolle dairspac e (Clas s G) , workload permitting

. Fixed-win g aircraf

t an dhelicopter s operat e unde r VFRo r IFRcondition s whil e i n flight

. Aircraf t unde r VF Rar e flow n primaril y b y referenc e t o visua l cue s outsid e th e cockpi t (e.g. , horizon , buildings , rivers, highways , etc. ) for orientatio n an dnavigation , an dt o maintai n separatio n from terrai n an dothe r

aircraft

. Aircraf

t unde r IF Rrel y o n instrument s tha t allo w pilot s t o operat e the m i n poo r visibilit y an dat

highe r altitudes

. Mos t

helicopter s operat e unde r VF Rwhic hmean s tha t

i t i s th e pilot' s responsibility t o "se e an davoid " othe r traffic , terrain , o r

obstacles

. Simpl y speaking , th e pilo t

i s responsibl e for

th e saf e operatio n o f

th e aircraft , whil e AT C i s responsibl e fo r th e overal l safety an defficienc y o f th e airspace

. Althoug hai r traffi c controller s ma y provid e traffi c advisor y servic e t o VF Rflight s (workloa dpermitting) , this doe s no t replac e apilot' s duty t o "se e an davoid. " Man y o f th e helicopte r

operation s i n Lo s Angele s County occu r i n Clas s G Airspace

. Additionally , 1 4 CF R§ 91.119(d ) authorize s helicopte r pilot s t o operat e belo w th e altitud e minimum s ove r

congeste do r

othe r area s a s lon g a s th e operatio n i s conducte dwithou t hazar dt o person s o r

propert y o n th e surface

. HELICOPTE RMINIMU M ALTITUDE S - FAA-2015-5041 : I n you r petition , yo u reques t

a n amendmen t

t o 1 4 CF R§ 91.11 9 pertainin g t o minimu msaf e altitude s ove r

congested , urban area s i n Lo s Angele s County , California

. Specifically , yo u reques t minimu mhelicopte r

altitudes

.Th e FA A establishe dacollaborativ e proces s whic hinclude dyou r organizatio n an dloca l helicopte r operator s beginnin g i n 201 2 unti l th e sprin g o f 2015whic h evaluate dwhethe r helicopter s coul dsafel y fly a t highe r altitude s withi n Lo s Angele s Count y give n it s uniqu e geographic , topographi c an dclimat e limitations

. Th e volum e an dcomplexity o f fixe dwin g aircraf t transitionin g i n variou s stage s o f flight (approach , departure , e n route ) prohibit s th e establishmen t

o f acounty wid e minimu mhelicopte r altitud e o f

2,00 0 feet

abov e groun dlevel

. Th e majority o f

helicopte r

operation s i n Lo s Angele s County operat e unde r visua l flight

rule s wher e th e pilo t

i n comman dchoose s asaf e altitud e t o "se e an davoid " othe r aircraf t an dgroun d obstacles

. Helicopter s inherentl y operat e a t slowe r speed s tha n faster

movin g fixe dwin g aircraf t an dsafety require s helicopter s t o b e segregate dfromth e faster movin g aircraft

. Requirin g helicopter s t o fly at

highe r altitude s woul dnegativel y impac t th e safet y o f th e Nationa l Airspac e Syste m(NAS ) b y placin g helicopter s i n conflic t withothe r

aircraf t an dwoul dincreas e th e chanc e o f amid-ai r collision

. Helicopte r

operator s hav e voluntaril y adjuste dth e altitude s o f aircraf t flyin g ove r

th e Hollywoo d sig n an dGriffit

hPark are aa s muc ha s feasibl y possibl e withou t compromisin g th e safety o f operations

. Significan t

Progres s an dImprovement s Althoug hth e FA A canno t at thi s tim e conduc t

rulemakin g for

th e specifi c petitio n requested , i t ha s take n importan t

step s tha t

further voluntary actio n o n th e part o f operators , residents , an d othe r stakeholders

. Th e FA A an dth e stakeholde r workin g group s hav e mad e significan t progres s o n eac ho f

th e si x action s specifie di n th e 201 4 Consolidate dAppropriation s Act , Publi c La w No
. 113-7 6 (Januar y 3 , 2014)

. Th e FA A i s committe dt o workin g withstakeholder s a s the y furthe r matur e an dformulat e additiona l voluntary measures . Significan t resource s hav e bee n expende dt o analyz e ho w helicopter s integrat e int o th e comple x airspac e o f Lo s Angele s County , includin g developin g ne w methodolog y an dtool s t o identif y helicopte r

flight tracks

. Gainin g a bette r understandin g o f

existin g helicopte r

operation s wa s anecessary first ste p i n evaluatin g existin g helicopte r

route s an daltitudes , an dth e FA A share dit s work-in-progres s with stakeholder s throug hdetaile dbriefing s an dworkin g grou p sessions

. Withthi s foundation , th e FA A an dstakeholder s hav e mad e progres s i n identifyin g rout e adjustment s tha t coul dlesse n impact s o n residentia l area s an dnoise-sensitiv e landmark s whil e avoidin g shiftin g nois e from on e residentia l neighborhoo dt o another

. Specificall y th e FA A ha s develope dspecifi c beaco n code s for us e i n Lo s Angele s County t o enhanc e safet y b y distinguishin g helicopter s from fixedwin g aircraf

t an dincreasin g situationa l awarenes s o f pilot s an dai r

traffi c controllers ; ha s complete dextensiv e in-depthanalysi s o f adherenc e t o existin g helicopte r route s an dpotentia l for rout e adjustment s fo r

th e Hollywood , Torrance , Palo s Verdes , an dLon g Beac hareas ; ha s provide dstakeholde r

briefing s t o revie w an dexplai n th e result s o f th e in-depthanalysis ; an dha s identifie dane w voluntar y offshore rout e base do n analysi s o f coastal ai r

traffi c an dstakeholde r input

. Th e FA A i s committe dt o continuin g it s evaluatio n o f helicopte r

traffi c i n Lo s Angele s Count y an dwil l continu e community involvemen t t o promot e voluntary measure s for nois e reduction

. Th e FA A ha s collaborate dwit hcommunity representative s an dhelicopte r operator s t o identif

y an dpromot e existin g bes t practice s t o reduc e noise

. It continue s t o issu e Advisory NOTAM s forlarg e event s an dencourag e helicopte r operator s an dnew s organization s t o emplo y practice s tha t reduc e noise

. Th e FA A an dhelicopte r group s hav e take n advantag e o f opportunitie s t o educat e pilot s an dencourag e bes t practices

. It

remain s alert

t o th e potentia l t o us e regularl y schedule d meetings , conferences , an dspecial events that attrac t helicopte r

pilot s a s wel l a s variou s method s o f communication , includin g printe dmaterial , Web sites , an dtargete demail s t o increas e awarenes s o f

nois e issue s an dbes t

practice s t o reduc e nois e ove r noise-sensitiv e areas . Th e FA A ha s implemente dadedicate dhelicopte r nois e complain t

syste mfor

Lo s Angele s Count y whic hconsist s o f adedicate dwe b portal , radar flight tracking , an dabrokerin g syste m tha t ca n rout e complaint s associate dwithaspecifi c airport t o tha t airport' s nois e offic e an d forwar dhelicopte r

nois e complaint s receive db y airport s t o th e centralize dhelicopte r nois e portal

. Thi s syste mha s th e potentia l t o for mth e basi s o f

a n on-goin g helicopte r

nois e program . Monthl y complain t

revie w committe e meeting s ar e takin g plac e betwee n industry an dyou r organizatio n t o discus s complain t syste mresult s an dhel p mak e informe ddecision s abou t modification s t o helicopte r route s an doperations

. Afte r reviewin g you r

reques t base do n th e curren t

prioritie s for

th e FA A an dth e guideline s foun di n § 11.73 , w e determine dth e issu e yo u raise ddoe s no t mee t th e criteri at o pursu e rulemakin g at

thi s time

. However , you r comment s an dargument s for th e propose drul e chang e i n you r petitio n wil l b e place di n adatabase , whic hw e wil l examin e whe n w e conside r future rulemaking

. I f th e FA A doe s pursu e rulemakin g i n this are ai n th e future , yo u woul db e abl e t o findou t an d trac k i t throug hon e o f

th e tw o followin g websites :

• Fo r significan t

rulemakings , yo u ca n findth e statu s o n th e Departmen t o f Transportation' s (DOT ) websit e (http://www.dot.gov/regulations/report-on-significant

rulemakings)

.

• Fo r non-significan t

rulemakings , yo u ca n findth e statu s o n th e DOT' s semi-annua l regulator y agenda, throug hth e Offic e o f Managemen t

an dBudget' s (OMB ) Offic e o f Informatio n an dRegulatory Affair' s (OIRA ) Unifie dAgend awebsit e (http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain)

. Fo r th e reason s above , w e ar e dismissing you r petitio n for

rulemakin g i n accordanc e with 1 4 CF R§11.73

. Sincerely ,
*J<sn*JLH>** Gar y A
. Ndfe k Actin g Director , Airspac e Service s