We need you to help us fight against the assault on our neighborhood from helicopter traffic and noise pollution! Join the BHA tomorrow on the steps of City Hall at a press conference with Congress Members Nydia Velázquez, Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler tomorrow, Monday, October 7th, 1:00 PM.

Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), and Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), will join numerous local elected officials and community groups to announce the introduction of their Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2019. The Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2019 would drastically reduce helicopter traffic, improve safety, and cut down on noise by prohibiting non-essential helicopters from flying within New York City airspace.

The BHA has pursued this issue for over a decade. Did you know that about 80% of the activity at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) is non-essential (tourist) traffic? It causes a constant din on the Promenade, in Brooklyn Bridge Park and over Governor’s Island.  It has a major impact on quality of life for anyone who lives along the tourist helicopter path from Battery Park up to Washington Heights, on both the Manhattan and New Jersey side. There have been at least 30 crashes and 25 fatalities since 1982.  The upside for the city (economic impact) is negligible, but the helicopter lobby is strong.

In a June 2019 letter to Federal Aviation Administration Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell, the Congress Members urged the FAA to ban all non-essential helicopter flights over New York City. “New York City has one of the highest rates of helicopter use in the world [and] is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States, exponentially increasing the potential dangers of a helicopter accident in our city. The number of helicopter flights over New York City creates intolerable risks to the community and negative impacts on the quality of life of all its residents. There is no justification for allowing tourists to joy-ride through our skies, endangering people below and adding to the heavy burden of noise pollution residents already endure." 

A big turnout at the press conference tomorrow will send the message that we are fed up with this needless imposition on our neighborhood's health and quality of life.

We hope to see you there!