Measure Already Approved By The Full State Assembly

The New Jersey State Senate Transportation Committee has passed a resolution that would ban tourist helicopter flights over the New Jersey side of the Hudson River.

The resolution was sponsored by committee chairman Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson), who says there are nearly 700 tourist flights each day flying over the river into New Jersey. He said the traffic has increased since New York City banned flights over certain parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

NJ.com reports that the full New Jersey State Assembly has already approved the resolution.

The ban resolution follows an agreement made between federal and state lawmakers and the Eastern Regional Helicopter council that limited hours of operating and the number of flights by one tour operator that flies from the Paulus Hook Heliport on the Jersey City Waterfront. That self-regulation failed to quiet complaints by residents living along the river.

The helicopter council says that the flights generate $33 million each year in the local economy.

The FAA, which regulates airspace, has not commented on the resolution.

FMI: www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/senate.asp