ERHC Encouraging Operators to Oppose NYC Mandatory Routing

ERHC Encouraging Operators to Oppose NYC Mandatory Routing

24-Jun-2010 Source: HAI

The Eastern Region Helicopter Council is encouraging helicopter operators to oppose a proposed regulation that would mandate the use of the New York North Shore Helicopter Route.

The Federal Aviation Administration published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Docket FAA 2010-0302) on May 26 and is accepting comments through June 25, 2010. The proposed change would modify 14 CFR Part 93 to require that “each person piloting a helicopter along Long Island, New York’s northern shoreline between the VPLYD waypoint and Orient Point shall utilize the North Shore Helicopter route, as published.” The rule would allow pilots to deviate from the route when required for safety, weather conditions, or transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing.

The New York North Shore Helicopter Route is a visual flight rules route that was developed in response to noise complaints received by New York public officials, including Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY). First published on May 8, 2008, it is a voluntary, over-water route designed to minimize noise.

The ERHC has created an online form to assist operators in submitting comments about the proposed rule to the FAA. It can be found here: http://www.erhc.org/nprmpublic.asp. Deadline for submitting comments through the form is June 24, 2010.

On its website, the ERHC states: “This is by far the biggest threat to helicopter aviation we have seen. This has come to be as a direct result of political pressure from Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York to try to eliminate all helicopter noise. This law, if enacted, will actually have little to no effect on the problem because almost every helicopter already follows a voluntary noise abatement route… If enacted, this could snowball nationwide and start restricting or even eliminating helicopter traffic in other areas of the country as a result of a few noise complaints. The only way to prevent this from happening is by having the helicopter community voice its concerns.”

The complete Notice of Proposed Rulemaking can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-12606.pdf.

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