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U.S
. Departmen

t Airsnace Service s o f Transportatio

n SlJF ? be, T
. „ „ . ^ ^ 80 0 Independenc

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. K5SL5! C " 0 n Washington , D C 2059 1 Administratio

n 

### MA Y 

### 2 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 Dea r 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

2015-5042 ) 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 Title 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 , urba n area s i n Lo s Angele s County
. I n accordanc e with 1 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 h year , 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 h 1 4 CF R§ 11.73 , th e FA A i s dismissing you r petitio n fo r

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 , with th 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 feet belo w se aleve l i n th e Cit y 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 squar e 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 r enjoy 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 ° F a

t 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 Sant aAn a winds. " Th e firs t

refer s t o th e ocea n fo g tha t keep s th e beac h citie 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 h an dmid-August
. Th e middl e o f autum n (October-November) ofte n bring s th e Sant aAn awinds , strong , ho t wind s fro macros s th e desert tha t increas e brush-fir e dange r an d revers e th e prevailin g offshor e 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 dvisibilit y an dlowe r clou dceiling s forc e visua l fligh t rule s (VFR ) helicopter s t o fl y 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 dgenera l aviatio n airport s i n clos e proximit y t o on e another , militar y operations , an dfligh t trainin g activity
. Currentl y ther e ar e 2 7 airport s (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 with 2 1 differen t airport sponsors . Additionally , ther e ar e 13 8 heliport s registere dwith th e FAA
. Althoug h som 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 fo r us e b y th e genera l publi c withou t prior 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 fo r

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 County 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 h ai 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) , workloa d permitting
. Fixed-win g aircraf

t an dhelicopter s operat e unde r VF Ro r IF Rcondition 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. ) fo r 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 da t

highe r altitudes
. Mos t

helicopter s operat e unde r VF Rwhic h mean s tha t

i t i s th e pilot' s responsibilit y 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 h ai 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 dut y 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 RHOVER/ORBI T RESTRICTION S - FAA-2015-5042 :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 , urba n area s i n Lo s Angele s County , California
. Specifically , yo u reques t certai n limitation s o n medi aan dtou r helicopte r

hoverin g includin g alimitatio n ( 5 minute s durin g an y one-hou r period ) o n th e amoun t

o f tim e ahelicopte r

ma y hove r

o r orbi t a t on e location
. Th e FA A an dindustr y organization s strongl y encourag e helicopte r operator s t o limi t

hoverin g ove r populate dan dothe r

noise-sensitiv e area s whe n possible
. Industry recommend s turnin g i n th e directio n o f

th e mai n rotor

rotatio n whe n hoverin g t o minimiz e th e nois e generate db y th e anti-torqu e syste man dkeepin g th e tur n rate a s lo w a s practical
. Th e FA A ha s ha dsucces s issuin g advisory Notice s t o Airme n (NOTAMs ) fo r planne devent s wher e helicopte r

activit y i s likel y t o occur . Advisory NOTAMs hav e minimize dhelicopte r operation s whic h i n tur n hav e alleviate dnois e complaint s durin g Lo s Angele s County event s suc h a s Carmageddo n I I an dconcert s a t th e Hollywoo dBowl
. Th e FA A wil l continu e t o issu e advisor y NOTAM s fo r

larg e event s a s appropriate
. Significan t

Progres s an dImprovement s Althoug h th e FA A canno t a t thi s tim e conduc t

rulemakin g fo r

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 h o 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 with stakeholder 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

fligh t tracks
. Gainin g a bette r understandin g o f

existin g helicopte r

operation s wa s anecessary firs t 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 h detaile dbriefing s an dworkin g grou p sessions
. Wit h thi 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 fo r us e i n Lo s Angele s County t o enhanc e safet y b y distinguishin g helicopter s fromfixed

win 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-depth analysi s o f adherenc e t o existin g helicopte r route s an dpotentia l fo r rout e adjustment s fo r

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

briefing s t o revie w an dexplai n th e result s o f th e in-depth analysis ; an dha s identifie dane w voluntar y offshore rout e base do n analysi s o f coasta l 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 fo r nois e reduction
. Th e FA A ha s collaborate dwith community 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 Advisor y NOTAM s fo r larg 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 , andspecia l event s tha

t attrac t helicopte r pilot s a s well a s variou s method s o f communication , includin g printe dmaterial , We b sites , an dtargete demail s to increas e awarenes s o f

nois e issue s andbes t

practice s t o reduc e nois e ove

r noise-sensitiv e areas . The FA A ha s implemente dadedicate dhelicopte r nois e complain

t syste mfo r Lo s Angele s Count y which consist s o f

adedicatedwe

b portal , rada

r fligh t tracking , an

dabrokerin g syste

m tha t ca n route complaint s associate dwit h aspecific airpor

t t o tha t airport' s nois e office an

d forwar dhelicopte

r nois e complaint s receivedb y airport s to the centralize dhelicopte r nois e portal
. Thi s syste

mha s the potentia

l to for mthe basi s o f

a n on-going helicopte

r nois e program . Monthly complain

t revie w committee meeting s ar e takin g plac e betwee

n industr y andyou r organizatio n to discus s complain t syste mresult s an

dhel p mak e informe ddecision s about modification s t o helicopte

r route s an doperations
. Afte r reviewin g you

r reques t basedon the curren

t prioritie s fo

r the FA A an dth e guideline s foun di n § 11.73 , w e determine dthe issu e yo u raise ddoe s not

mee t the criteri ato pursu e rulemakin g a

t thi s time
. However , you

r comment s an

dargument s fo

r the propose drul e chang e in your petitio n will b e place di

n adatabase , whic

h w e wil l examine whe

n w e conside

r futur e rulemaking
. I f th e FA A doe s pursu e rulemaking i n thi s are ai n th e future , yo u wouldb e abl e t o findou

t and trac k it throug h one o f

the tw o followin

g websites :

• 

### Fo r significan t rulemakings , you ca

n find the statu s on 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 find the statu s on the DOT' s semi-annua l regulator y agenda , through the Offic e o f Managemen

t an dBudget' s (OMB ) Office o f Informatio n andRegulator

y Affair' s (OIRA) Unifie

dAgendawebsit

e (http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain')
. For th e reason s above , w e ar

e dismissing you

r petitio n fo r rulemaking in accordanc e wit h 1 4 CF R§11.73
. Sincerely ,

Gar y A
. Notek Actin g Director , Airspac e Service s