### 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 industry ʼ s 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.

ERHC ʼ s 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 FAA ʼ s 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 ERHC ʼs 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 member ʼ s 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.

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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