But Activists Continue To Call For A Ban On The Flights

A group of activists in New York and New Jersey are still working to have sightseeing flights over New York City and the Hudson River banned ... but they are not getting much help from the Mayor of New York City.

Residents recently took their concerns about safety and quality of life issues to a group of elected officials that included New York U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D) and Nydia Velazquez (D), New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez (D) and New Jersey Congressman Albio Sires (D). NewJersey.com reports that Nadler, Velazquez, and representatives from Sires' and Menendez' offices met with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on the topic ... but came away with little.

The paper reports that de Blasio heard the arguments made by the anti-helicopter group, and understands that their goal is a complete ban on helicopter tours. But the Mayor was not ready to set a timetable for a resolution banning the flights, and the anti-helicopter group "Stop the Chop" is in a "wait and see mode," according to Nadler's district director Robert Gottheim.

Brian Wagner, a resident of Hoboken, NJ and founder of Stop the Chop, said that de Blasio can terminate the contract with Saker Aviation, the company that operates tours from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, at any time, but he is "afraid of making a decision ... His main concern is loss of jobs."

New York City Economic Development Corporation spokesman Ian Fried released a statement supporting the Mayor's position, saying the city is "evaluating the issue" and will work with community groups and elected officials in an effort to reach a compromise.

While the helicopter advocates say that the number of noise complaints has dropped as much as 80 percent since 2010, and most of those are about aircraft that can legally fly below altitude restrictions such as police and other public safety entities, news-gathering, and charter flights, those opposed say that's because people in New Jersey cannot complain about noise on the New York complaint line. Delia von Neuschtaz, another co-founder of Stop the Chop, said "it's like living in the opening sequence of M.A.S.H. day in and day out." She said that on clear days there can be a helicopter as often as every two minutes.

FMI: www.helicoptersmatter.org, www.stopthechopnynj.org