Lawmakers Propose Helicopter Noise Bill After Murphy Urges FAA

A bipartisan group of congresspeople from New Jersey and New York introduced new legislation on Tuesday to rein in helicopter noise over the region, which residents say has wreaked havoc on their daily lives. 

The news came the same day advocates revealed that Gov. Phil Murphy (D) had quietly pressed the Federal Aviation Authority in an Aug. 18  letter urging action against disruptive flights over Hoboken and Jersey City. Local residents say that the legislation, coupled with Murphy’s formal appeal to federal regulators, marks long-awaited progress in their campaign.

“I am very grateful for the governor’s attention to the issue and I think that his statement to the FAA is spot on what is needed from them,” said Corey Davis, a member of Safe Skies Coalition, a nonprofit watchdog organization aimed at addressing non-essential flights in the air. 

“I hope that the state still pursues more direct executive action through the New Jersey Department of Transportation and works to support the municipalities that are impacted,” Davis added.

The sound of humming helicopter engine blades roaming over densely populated neighborhoods is not unbeknownst to residents living in Hudson County. The trail of helicopter flights stems from a heliport located in the City of Kearney, with over 7,900 nonessential flights departing from the facility this year, previously reported by New Jersey Urban News.

After the article was published, residents indicated that non-essential flight patterns had been reduced, bringing to an end years of advocacy brought on by anti-helicopter groups such as Stop the Chop NY-NJ and Safe Skies Coalition.

The new measure, led by the U.S. Representatives Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Dan Goldman (D-NY), would require the FAA to study the safety and noise impact of helicopter traffic within 20 miles of the Statue of Liberty. In a statement to New Jersey Urban News, Menendez said it was “time for the FAA to act.”

“I’ve heard from constituents in Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, and beyond whose quality of life is severely impacted by non-essential helicopters. The tragic crash of a tourism helicopter in the Hudson River just a few months ago makes it clear that this is a safety issue as well,” said Menendez.

Murphy’s letter cited both the recent crash and a fatal helicopter incident in 2018, pushing the FAA to apply its federal authority–whether through new regulations falling under “air tour management plans” or “emergency orders” to reduce flights or outright ban charter flights operating in New Jersey.

The letter suggests a limit should be placed on nonessential operating flights from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., arguing that residents should be spared early-morning and late-evening noise disruption caused by helicopters. 

Additionally, Murphy urged federal officials to require “safer, less disruptive paths for remaining helicopter operations,” steering them away from densely populated municipalities in Hudson County and over waterways.

“Thousands of tourist and charter flights each year at low altitude over two of New Jersey’s most densely populated communities, Hoboken and Jersey City, causing disruptive noise and raising serious safety concerns,” according to the letter obtained by New Jersey Urban News. “We must not wait for such a tragedy to occur before taking decisive action.”

The FAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Murphy’s letter or the new congressional legislation introduced Tuesday. New Jersey Urban News reached out to Murphy’s office for further comment on the recent announcement, which deferred to the letter.

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy said in an emailed statement directed to New Jersey Urban News that he was thankful to see Murphy’s letter in support of reducing nonessential helicopter traffic in his county.

 “We remain committed to engaging Hudson County residents on this issue,” said Guy. “I will continue to work with Representative Rob Menendez, State Senator Raj Mukherji, Mayor Carol Jean Doyle, and other elected officials to reduce nonessential helicopter flights and make our communities safer.”

On Tuesday, Guy met with Kearney Mayor Carol Jean Doyle and local residents to discuss the non-essential helicopter traffic issue. While meeting specifics were not disclosed by county officials or advocates, participants said they left feeling optimistic about potential progress.

“It has renewed my hope in the idea that we are going to solve this issue,” said Nick Wierda, a member of Stop the Chop Jersey City who attended the meeting. “This has been a major problem for far too long, and I’m glad our elected officials have taken notice and are helping us alleviate what has become a daily scourge.”