Wed, Jun 26, 2019
Letter To Acting FAA Administrator Calls For An End To 'Joy Riding' Tourist Flights
A group of members of Congress from New York has written a letter to acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell calling for a complete ban on "non-essential" helicopter flights over New York City.
The effort is being led by Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07). Joining the Members on the letter are Reps. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Kathleen M. Rice (NY-04), Grace Meng (NY-06), Thomas R. Suozzi (NY-03), Eliot L. Engel (NY-16), and José E. Serrano (NY-15). This request comes after the June 10 accident which resulted in the death of the pilot after he impacted the roof of a Midtown building.
"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," the letter states. "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. Commuter helicopter flights impose risks to the community that far outweigh any benefits to the very small number of people who use them.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio, in an interview last week on WNYC Radio with Brian Lehrer, publicly stated that he supports a ban of non-essential helicopters over Manhattan, and that he is working with the Congressional delegation on this effort.
"We are asking you to look at the history of fatal crashes and near escapes and to take immediate action to ban all non-essential helicopter flights and immediate institute TFRs on helicopter flights over New York City. It is within the FAA’s authority to issue this TFR, and we urge the FAA to act without delay," the letter concludes.
(Source: Rep. Maloney news release. Image from file)
More News
He Attempted To Restart The Engine Three Times. On The Third Restart Attempt, He Noticed That Flames Were Coming Out From The Right Wing Near The Fuel Cap Analysis: The pilot repor>[...]
Make Sure You NEVER Miss A New Story From Aero-News Network Do you ever feel like you never see posts from a certain person or page on Facebook or Instagram? Here’s how you c>[...]
From 2009 (YouTube Edition): Leading Air Show Performers Give Their Best Advice for Newcomers On December 6th through December 9th, the Paris Las Vegas Hotel hosted over 1,500 air >[...]
Aero Linx: NASA ASRS ASRS captures confidential reports, analyzes the resulting aviation safety data, and disseminates vital information to the aviation community. The ASRS is an i>[...]
“For our inaugural Pylon Racing Seminar in Roswell, we were thrilled to certify 60 pilots across our six closed-course pylon race classes. Not only did this year’s PRS >[...]
NTSB Final Report: Rutan Long-EZ
See All