Says Petition Does Not Show Concerns That Can Be Resolved Via Southern Route

The FAA has denied a petition by Southold Town in New York asking that helicopters flying to East End in the Hamptons use an established South Shore route.

According to a report in Riverhead Local online, the FAA sent a letter dated May 16 to Southold Supervisor Scott Russell saying the agency had carefully reviewed the information provided in the petition, and "determined that the petition does not identify an immediate safety or security concern that would be resolved by eliminating the NSR [North Shore Route] and mandating the SSR [South Shore Route]. In fact, the FAA finds that terminating the NSR and mandating the SSR, as Southold suggested, may not be in the interest of aviation safety.”

Gary Norek, deputy director of airspace services at the FAA, wrote in the letter that "The FAA recognizes the concerns residential communities, such as Southold, have about helicopter noise. However, after carefully reviewing the information provided in Southold’s petition for rulemaking, the FAA has determined that the petition does not identify an immediate safety or security concern that would be resolved by eliminating the NSR and mandating the SSR."

Southold Councilman Bob Ghosio, who has acted as a liaison to the council's helicopter committee, called the dismissal "absolutely ridiculous." He accused the FAA of ignoring the request because "they don’t have the time or the resources to deal with it or have other priorities to focus on."

The town is reportedly preparing a legal case against the FAA, but has not yet filed the suit.

FMI: Original Story