Long Island All-Water Helicopter Route Act of 2020

To extend the special air traffic rule for civil helicopters operating VFR along the North Shore, Long Island, New York, to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to promulgate a new special air traffic rule, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Long Island All-Water Helicopter Route Act of 2020 2. Long Island, New York, North Shore and South Shore Helicopter Routes (a) Extension of special air traffic rule for North Shore Notwithstanding the ending date for the period described in section 93.101 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, the special air traffic rule for civil helicopters operating VFR along the North Shore, Long Island, New York, in effect under subpart H of part 93 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, on August 6, 2020, shall remain in effect through the day before the date on which the final version of the special air traffic rule promulgated under subsection (b) is published. (b) Rulemaking proceeding (1) In general The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (in this section referred to as the Administrator (2) Requirements The special air traffic rule promulgated under this subsection shall require the following: (A) North Shore Helicopter Route Each person who pilots a civil helicopter operating VFR along Long Island, New York's northern shoreline between the VPLYD way­point and Plum Island shall— (i) based on the most recently published editions by the Federal Aviation Administration of the New York Helicopter Route Chart and the Northeast Aeronautical Chart Bulletin, adhere to an all-water North Shore Helicopter Route that includes operating around Orient Point, Shelter Island, and Plum Island; (ii) mitigate noise by flying at least 1 mile from the shoreline and at an altitude of not less than 2,500 feet mean sea level; and (iii) prohibit deviations from the North Shore Helicopter Route for purposes of transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing when departing from or arriving to locations east of longitude 72°16′04″ W. (B) South Shore Helicopter Route Each person who pilots a civil helicopter operating VFR along Long Island, New York's southern shoreline between Breezy Point Jetty and the VPMLT waypoint shall— (i) based on the most recently published editions by the Federal Aviation Administration of the New York Helicopter Route Chart and the Northeast Aeronautical Chart Bulletin, adhere to an all-water South Shore Helicopter Route; and (ii) mitigate noise by flying at least 1 mile from the shoreline and at an altitude of not less than 2,500 feet mean sea level. (C) Exceptions A person who pilots a civil helicopter operating VFR along Long Island, New York's northern shoreline or southern shoreline may deviate from the North Shore Helicopter Route or South Shore Helicopter Route— (i) when necessary for safety or weather conditions; or (ii) except as prohibited under subparagraph (A)(iii), when transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing. (D) Flight report (i) Submission If safety or weather conditions cause a person piloting a civil helicopter operating VFR to deviate from the North Shore Helicopter Route or South Shore Helicopter Route, the person shall submit a 1-page report to the Administrator identifying the condition not later than 14 days after landing. (ii) Public database The Administrator shall make the reports submitted under clause (i) publically available in an online searchable database. (3) Deadlines (A) Rulemaking proceeding Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to carry out the requirements of this section. (B) Public comment period The Administrator shall provide notice of, and an opportunity for, at least 30 days of public comment on the special air traffic rule promulgated under this subsection. (C) Effective date of special air traffic rule Not later than May 1, 2021, the Administrator shall publish a final version of the special air traffic rule promulgated under this subsection which shall take effect upon publication. (c) Repeal Effective on the date on which the final version of the special air traffic rule promulgated under subsection (b) is published by the Administrator, subpart H of part 93 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, is repealed.

Summary: Long Island All-Water Helicopter Route Act of 2020 This bill extends the special air traffic rule for civil helicopters operating under visual flight rules (VFR) along the North Shore in Long Island, New York to use the New York North Shore Helicopter Route. (VFR are a set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must conduct a rulemaking proceeding to promulgate a new special air traffic rule for civil helicopters operating VFR along the North Shore and South Shore of Long Island, New York in accordance with specified requirements of the bill. A person who pilots a civil helicopter operating VFR along Long Island, New York's northern shoreline or southern shoreline may deviate from the North Shore Helicopter Route or South Shore Helicopter Route requirements: (1) for safety or weather conditions; or (2) when transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing, except for on the North Shore Helicopter Route when departing from or arriving to certain locations. If safety or weather conditions cause a person piloting a civil helicopter operating VFR to deviate from either route, the person must submit a one page report to the FAA identifying the condition not later than 14 days after landing.