Eastern Region Helicopter Council, Inc. www.erhc.org

Eastern Region Helicopter Council

Operations Analysis – Suffolk County

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

June 17, 2011

The Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) conducted a detailed analysis to 

provide empirical data on the local helicopter industryʼs performance over the 2011 

Memorial Day weekend. The analysis found that 91% of all observed operations 

between the Nassau/Suffolk border and the North and South Forks were in 

compliance with agreed to voluntary noise abatement guidelines and procedures that 

were developed and implemented in 2008 by ERHC, the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), East End airports and a number of local elected officials. 

On average, helicopters operated during the holiday weekend at an altitude of 2,745 

feet, which exceeds the recommended voluntary noise abatement guideline altitude of 

2,500 feet (safety/weather/operational conditions permitting). Even with the inclement 

weather on Saturday 28 MAY (overcast conditions with low ceilings), this is the highest 

recorded average altitude since ERHC began collecting Suffolk County data in early 

2008. 

Regarding North/Center/South route diversification, 85% of all aircraft were observed 

on the North Shore, 9% were flying over the Center of the Island and 13% were on the 

South Shore. It should be noted that 73% of all aircraft operating on the North Shore 

were observed over Long Island Sound, and 86% of those aircraft were operating over 

one-mile out from shore. This percentage is consistent with regional fleet mix data and 

ERHC’s safety recommendation to its members that only mid-size, twin-engine aircraft 

(S-76, B430, AW139, AS365, etc.) should use over water routes.

ERHCʼs findings for the four-day Memorial Day weekend are as follows: 

Day/Date Total

Observations

Guideline 

Compliance

Compliance 

Percentage

Average

Altitude 

FRI/27 MAY 37 34 89% 2,802

SAT/28 MAY 12 12 100% 2,350

MON/30 MAY 79 72 91% 2,828

TUE/31 MAY 18 15 83% 2,505

TOTALS 146 133 91% 2,745

679B Rose Hollow Drive, Yardley, PA 19067

845 353 6050 erhcny@erhc.org
Eastern Region Helicopter Council, Inc. www.erhc.org

Eastern Region Helicopter Council

Operations Analysis – Suffolk County

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

June 17, 2011

Page 2

This analysis utilizes PASSUR inSight subscription-based airport radar flight tracking 

data (purchased by ERHC) to quantify known peak-day and peak-hour periods during 

the holiday weekend. Data was collected for Friday, May 27 (1600-2100), Saturday, 

May 28 (1400-2100), Monday, May 30 (1400-2000) and Tuesday, May 31 (0600-1000) 

at 15-minute intervals (1600, 1615, 1630, 1645, etc.) to eliminate any randomness and 

obtain a representative sample of aircraft activity for each time period. Data collection 

focused on aircraft tail number, aircraft type, altitude, heading, location, and whether 

or not the observed aircraft was adhering to the suggested voluntary noise abatement 

guidelines. 

PASSUR data (out of ISP) can consistently track flight activity as far east as the North 

and South Forks. Tail numbers were cross-referenced with FAAʼs aircraft registry to 

ensure only rotorcraft were included in the analysis (fixed-wing volumes proximate to 

the North and South Shores and the Suffolk County area in general are extremely high 

due to general aviation activity at FRG, ISP and FOK).

679B Rose Hollow Drive, Yardley, PA 19067

845 353 6050 erhcny@erhc.org
Eastern Region Helicopter Council, Inc. www.erhc.org

Eastern Region Helicopter Council

Operations Analysis – Suffolk County

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

June 17, 2011

Page 3

Lastly, the above map depicts all helicopter observations in this analysis and includes 

an overlay representing the 103 distinct households (98 of which are located on the 

North Fork) that submitted 389 noise complaints into ERHCʼs PlaneNoise Complaint 

Box during the Memorial Day weekend. Complaints are collected via three methods: 

(1) toll-free Noise Complaint Hotline (1-800-319-7410), (2) webform on 

FlyNeighborly.net, or (3) by email. 

While it is clear that ERHC memberʼs continued high levels of compliance with the 

agreed to voluntary noise abatement procedures are significantly reducing complaints 

along the North Shore of Suffolk County (west of Baiting Hollow), helicopter noise 

remains a major concern of residents in the Township of Southold on the North Fork in 

the communities of Mattituck, Cutchogue and Southold. ERHC is currently working 

with various East End stakeholders on this issue and is committed to addressing the 

issues in a fair and equitable manner. 

* * * *

For further information, please contact the Eastern Region Helicopter Council at 631-938-1116 

or via email at public.affairs@erhc.org.

679B Rose Hollow Drive, Yardley, PA 19067

845 353 6050 erhcny@erhc.org