The city has reached a surprise deal to halve the helicopter-tour traffic thundering in and out of the heliport across from Brooklyn Heights over the next year, and will eliminate all flights on Sundays, the mayor’s office announced on Friday.
“We’ve reached an agreement that will significantly cut down on the number of helicopter tours near residential areas and major parks, while keeping this part of our tourism sector active and viable,” said Mayor DeBlasio.
The agreement requires tour operators to halve the number of flights at the Manhattan heliport by January 2017, and to end all flights on Sundays by April 1 this year. The reduction will be phased in over the course of the year, with a 20-percent reduction from 2015 levels beginning June 1, and a 40-percent reduction by Oct. 1. The city estimates that by this time next year, the agreement will have eliminated nearly 30,000 helicopter flights annually.
“The din of helicopters has been a major quality of life issue for New Yorkers living near heavily trafficked routes,” said DeBlasio. “Today we’re addressing it.”
And none too soon. The deal was hammered out by the city’s Economic Development Corporation, which owns the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, in order to preempt far more drastic legislation under consideration by the Council that would effectively banish the helicopter-tour industry from the city.
The Council members who pushed the chopper-banning bill nevertheless claimed victory for forcing the corporation’s hand.
“As Council members, we are proud to have pushed forward legislation that helped give our constituents a voice and a rallying point in the fight to reduce noise and air pollution caused by the increasing number of tourist helicopter flights,” said Councilman Carlos Menchaca (D–Red Hook), in a joint statement with Councilwoman Margaret Chin (D–Manhattan) and Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal (D–Manhattan).
The deal is also vindication for Heights and Hook residents who have long complained about the din caused by the tour-copters rumbling past their homes, they said.
“This is an important recognition of the impact that noise has on the quality of life for New Yorkers and the start of a less noisy and more livable city for those in the flight path,” the trio said.
Helicopter tour operators will have to provide monthly reports on the number of flights, and if they are determined to have violated key terms of the agreement, the Economic Development Corporation will have authority to impose further reductions.
Saker Aviation, the concessionaire for the heliport, also agreed to establish a system to monitor air quality in the vicinity and to provide monthly reports. Saker has also promised to reduce idling by helicopters between flights.
