Local Officials Will Push For Additional Restrictions In Other Areas

A U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. has upheld a ruling that allows the FAA to set certain corridors for helicopter flights along the north shore of Long Island Sound.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) had filed a lawsuit against the FAA in 2012 after the North Shore route was made mandatory by the agency. It restricts helicopter operations to a specific over-water corridor, with exceptions for bad weather, emergency operations, and aircraft with no over-water safety equipment.

The lower court had ruled that the FAA has the authority to establish such routes, and the Court of Appeals agreed.

Long Island Newsday reports that local officials such as Assemblyman Fred Thiele of Sag Harbor are calling on the FAA to establish additional corridors in other areas where there have been numerous noise complaints.

The corridor requires helicopters along the north shore of Long Island to remain one mile offshore and maintain an altitude at or above 2,500 feet. The FAA had agreed with local residents that noise from the aircraft was "unbearable" and "negatively" impacted their quality of life.

FMI: www.cadc.uscourts.gov