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I)car r\rlilinisilulol Illakcv:

i \\'riiL' on ircl:ail ol'tc'sidcnts oi'my disl cl on the Wesr Sirle of Manhattan q,ho c.rDcricnre ir ronslirnt tnlPecl lion mors- and more heiicoptcrrs tuming at Wcst 83d Strcet and Riverside Uir," i,, if\. io'.ard ( c'nlral l'alk uDd lhcn circlc lrack. liclicoptcrs arc not permitted io flv over residr,.ntial ,."u, ,,,J i:rto thc Park.

I ils() und!'isliii)d thai thr'rc arc norv fivc (5) hrli{jopter con:panies at tire wesl -l{.) Strccrt llclipon. irn{i I \vus trnck'i lltc inri:rcssi0lthul thcrlj rvas only ouc company.

( i):rr'llinitv lloarcj i has hcld hearings on this topic in the past, and I suggcsl thar rvc schcdulc rrtcctinr: ivilh lhr' Ci)rrrr]luni'ry "

lloard anrj other intcrested partics to cnsurc t6at thc pikrls ol'torr.ist and i)lhcr n(n)-unlcrsfnc_r hciicoptcrs no longcr fly ovcr rcsidcntial areas in lvlanhattan.

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E.ctem Region U.S. Deportment 6-fice ot ttrj cegionat Administrator

of Tronsportotion

Feclelol Aviolion

Administrotion

1.,1A3. I 2007

'l Aviation Plaza

Jamaica, NY 1 1434

The Honorable Gale A. Brewer

The Council of the City of New York

District Offrce

563 Columbus Avenue

New York, NY 10024

Dear Councilwoman Brewer:

This is in response to your letter of Janaary 23,2007, on behalf of your constituents,

concerning helicopter haffic over residential neighborhoods in Manhattan, New York.

In order to properly address the issues raised in your letter, additional time is needed to

thoroughly review your constifuents' concems. You can expect a reply from us no later than

April 13,2007.

If you require further information please contact my offrce or the Air Traffic Organization at

404-305-6220.

Sincerelv.

!tv-',L

Manny Weiss

Regional Administrator

Enclosure

Transmitted Correspondenoe
GALE A. BREVER

COUNCIL MEMEER, DISTRICT 6

MANHATiAN

DISTTICT OTFICE

t63 COLIjMBUS AVENUE, 

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3?* STIEET

NEW YOIK, NY IOO2I

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FAX (214 8?1.02?9

CITY HALL OFFTCE

250 BROADVAY, ROOM I7"

NEW AORK. NY IOOOT

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OVEISIGHT &

May 5,2008

Mr. Robert Stugell

Acting Administator

Federal Aviation Administration

800 Independence Ave, SW

Washington, DC 20591

Dear Administrator Sturgell:

I write on behalf of Eugene Bemecker of 185 west End Aveirue, #2PC, New York, NY

10023 who is complaining about the noisy helicopters that fly along the Hudson River, over the

nir".rla. Souttr buitangi Riverside Borrlevard from West 59t Street to West 72 Street. Since

be"ember 2007, Mr. Bemecker believes that there has been an incrcase in the number of

helicopters flying over our community on the upper West Side'

Residents who live on West 83d Steet and Riverside Drive also conplain about the noise

ftom the helicopters that fly in their area. The helicopters turn around at this location, as well as

in the area around Riverside South.

I look forward to an explanation as to why the helicopters, particularly those opelated and

flown for tourists, fly within close proximity to a residential mne. what can be done to ban the

tourist helicopte$ from fllng up and down the Hudson River into residential commrmities? If

you have queitions, please contact Rosalba Rodriguez or nrc at2l2-8734282'

Thank you for your attention to this matter'

Sincerely,

?owe>- c*A.BrewerT' ,/

coxl|tTrBas

AGING

NNANCE

GATETAL WELPARE

VAIEIFIONTS
U.9.Oepattment

of Transportatbn

Fedcnl Avladon

Administration

Office of the Regional Adminisrator

Eastern Region

1 Aviation Plaza

Jamaica, NY 11434-4809

JUITIE L4S

Ms. Gale A. Brewer

Council Member

The Citv of New York

563 Coiumbus Avenue at 87' Street

New York, New York 10024

Dear Ms. Brewer:

ThisisinreplytoyourletterdatedMay5,200s,toActingAdministratorRobertSturgell'

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U.tt"ff ofVL* constituent Eugene Bemecker, conceming helicopter overflights of the

West Side of Manhattan.

Helicopters, generally, operate under visual flight rules and are not in direct contact with Air

irurit" co"";r".r. ih"-flight path you reference along the east bank of the Hudson River is

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ofn"iutty r""ognized and recomrnended route for helicopters to follow when flying along

the west side of Manhattan. This coastline flight path has been in place for many years.

IJeally, helicopters should not be flying directly over the Riverside south buildings;

ho*"u"r, it is not a violation of aviation regulations if they do. Residents may call the

helicopter industry representatives at 845-353-6050 when they observe overhead flights'

tfre representatives will make every effort to identifi the operation and reinforce the need

for helicopter pilots to stay on the recommended route. However, if a helicopter is ever

observed operating in a manner that is unsafe, a call should be placed to the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) safety Inspectors at 631-755- 1300 to report the activity.

Such a flight will be thoroughly investigated and if it is determined that an aviation

regulatioriwas violated the pilot will be subjecto substantial fines and penalties. It should

beinoted that helicopters do not have a set minimum altitude that they must maintain.

There are three ways to challenge existing aviation reguiations, including the imposition ofa

ban on tourist heliiopter flights. One is to petition the FAA for a rule change. This process

is explained at http:/www.faa.gov/regulationslolicies/rulemaking/petition/#rulemaking.

Second, is to legislate a new federalaw. Third, is to win a ruling in court'

Sincerely,

Resional Administrator
CAIE A. BREWER

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December 19, 2008

Robert A. Sturgell

Acting Administrator

Federal Aviation Administratiorr

800 lndependence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20591

Dear Acting Administrator Sturgell:

I write on behalf of residents ofthe Upper West Side of Manhattan who have reported to

my office a number ofnon-emergency helicopters hovering over their buildings on Saturday,

November 29, 2008, as well as other days. I have attached some of the photos taken bv

constituents on that day.

As you know, tou st helicopters are not permitted to fly over residential areas, yet Upper

West Siders continue to experience the constant noise {iom more and more low-flying helicopters

that circle over Central Park and then fly west over their residences en route to the river. This

situation is worsening, with flights occurring as often as every 3-5 minutes throughout the day,

and often until 8-9pm during the sumrner months.

Along with Community Board 7, my office has worked to ensure that the pilots of tourist

and other non-emergency helicopters no longer fly over residential areas in Manhattan. What is

the FAA doing to enforce the law requiring pilots to follow designated routes?

I look forward to your response.

Enclosure

\AA'N/-

Penny Ryan, District Manager, Community Board 7

Kieth Spadaro, Deputy lnspector, Commanding Officer, 20 Precinct

Kathleen O'Reilly, Deputy Inspector, Commanding Qfficer, 24 Precinct

Hon. Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President

Sincerely,
U.5. Department

o{Transportation

FederaJ Aviation

Adminirtration

FEB 0 4 2009

Office of the Regional Administrator

Eastern Region

1 Aviation Plaza

Jamaica, NY 11434-4809

Mr. Cale A. Brewer

Council Member

The City of New York

563 Columbus Avenue at 87u Street

New York, New York 10024

Dear Mr. Brewer:

This is in reply to your letter dated December 19, 2008, to Acting Administrator Robert

Sturgell, on behalf of your constituents, conceming helicopter overflights ofthe Upper

West Side of Manhattan, NY.

There is no law requiring helicopter pilots to follow designated routes, or preventing them

from overflying or hovering over buildings in Manhattan. There me recommended routes

for helicopters to follow in and around the New York metro area, and recommended policies

for non-emergency helicopters to follow when hovering. However, the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) cannot take enforcement action on regulations that do not exist.

What we can report is that helicopter industry representatives are making an active and

concerted effort to convince the tourist helicopter companies, whose pilots are not diligently

adhering to the area's recommended routes and hovering policies, that it is in everyone's

best interest, including their own, to do so.

Residents should continue to report disturbing helicopter overflights to the industry

representatives at 845-353-6050 with as much detail as possible. Additionally, if a resident

ever observes a helicopter operating in a manner that they consider unsafe, a call should be

placed to the FAA Safety Inspectors at 631-755-1300. Such a flight will be thoroughly

investigated and if it is determined that an aviation regulation was violated the pilot will be

subject to substantial fines and penalties. It should be noted that helicopters do not have a

set minimum altitude that they must maintain.

Sincerely,

A (lin NuuuW/

(/ / Carmine Gallo

U RegionalAdministrator