LaHood Indicates Changes Could Come By Memorial Day

Despite the defeat of his 11th hour amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) said this week that he expects the FAA will soon offer new rules to require helicopter flights to Long Island and the Hamptons to be conducted north of the city over Long Island sound as a way to reduce noise over the region.

Schumer (pictured) said that a recent statement from Secretary LaHood, in which he reportedly said the regs could be in effect by Memorial Day, should be a "wake up call" to the helicopter industry that Long Island "will not continue to be the Wild West" for aircraft he described as noisy and disruptive.

The Associated Press reports that, while the Senate passed legislation to restrict helo flights over the island, the measure died in the House. Now, he says LaHood will implement the changes through the FAA regulatory process. Schumer says the voluntary regulations put in place five years ago have been "largely ignored" by the industry.

And the rules may not stop on the north side of the island. Shumer says LaHood is crafting regs that would restrict helicopter flights along the 120 mile south shore as well.

FMI: www.faa.gov, http://schumer.senate.gov