Stop The Chop NY NJ

Stop The Chop is a grassroots organization formed to reduce helicopter noise and ban nonessential flights over NYC, the NY Metropolitan Area and NJ, due to the noise, environmental, and quality of life impacts.

Other Federal Legislation

2024

March 12, 2024 Press Release To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study on the operation of helicopters within a 15 mile radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and for other purposes.

2023

April 13, 2023 H.R. 2613 Communities Before Air Tourism Act from NJ Congressman Menendez, Jr. to require that a voluntary agreement with respect to commercial air tour operations over a national park considers the well-being of communities overflown by aircraft involved in such operations, and for other purposes.

February 2023 Press Release Announcing Reintroduction of Safe and Quiet Skies Act

H.R. 1071, H.R. 389 – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) introduced H.R. 389 (reintroduced by Congressman Ed Case (HI-1) as H.R. 1071), the Safe and Quiet Skies Act, along with Representatives Ed Case (HI-1), Albio Sires (NJ-8), Joe Neguse (CO-2), Brad Sherman (CA-30), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large)., Jill Tokuda (HI-2), Nydia Velasquez (NY-7). The bill will (1) require that tour flights fly above the 1,500-foot altitude over actual ground at all times with very limited exceptions for emergencies and takeoff/landing, (2) require tour flights over occupies areas (including residential, commercial and recreational areas) to be no louder than 55dbA, the same level of noise commonly allowed for residential areas, (3) allow states and localities to impose additional requirements – stricter than the minimum national requirements called for in the act – on tour flights, (4) require that all regulations under this Act, in addition to any updates to any Air Tours Common Procedure Manuals (voluntary understandings between operators and the FAA), include public engagement, (5) prohibit tour flights over military installations, national cemeteries, national wilderness areas, national parks, and national wildlife refuges, (6) apply the “sterile cockpit rule” to tour flights, which requires that pilots only focus on safely operating the aircraft and would define tour-giving and narrating as outside of the duties required for safe operation, and (7) require FAA to implement NTSB recommendations regarding Part 135 regulations, which most tour flights fly under.

2022 & Earlier

S. 36 – Kobe Bryant & Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act: Introducted by Senator Feinstein (for herself, Senator Schumer, Senator Blumenthal, and Senator Markey) to require certain helicopters to be equipped with safety technologies, and for other purposes.

H.R. 5423 – Aircraft Noise Reduction Act: This bill, introduced by Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-2), authorizes owners or operators of general aviation airports to implement aircraft noise restrictions, including (1) restricting the number and type of aircraft that can operate at their airports, and (2) setting date and time limitations for such operations. The bill prohibits withholding or withdrawing federal funds from airports that choose to implement noise restrictions. The Department of Transportation may restrict the authority of airport owners or operators to impose noise restrictions in the case of an emergency.

H.R. 4892 – Quiet Communities Act of 2021: This bill, introduced by Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-6), would reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the EPA. Read more…

H.R. 7730 – Long Island All-Water Helicopter Route Act of 2020. Read more…

National Parks Air Tour Management Act – to regulate air tours over parks and tribal lands through, among other things, the development of air tour management plans. The Act requires that the FAA, and the National Park Service, jointly develop Air Tour Management Plan (ATMPs) for park or tribal lands within or abutting a National Park where air tour operations occur or are proposed (Read more). Recently, the National Park Service (NPS) set a Final Commercial Air Tour Voluntary Agreement regarding the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island National Monuments (Read more). NJ Congressman Menendez wrote a letter to FAA Administrator Dolan and NPS Director Sims regarding the above Agreement (Read more).

Airport Noise & Capacity Act of 1990 (“ANCA”) Read more…

Additional Federal Documents Regarding Helicopter Issues:

  • March 3, 2023 Letter to FAA Administrator Nolen and NPS Director Sims by US Representative Goldman expressing concern over NPS NY Harbor helicopter plan
  • October 29, 2021 Letter to Secretary Buttigieg and Administrator Regan in support of the Improving Helicopter Safety Act
  • February 2, 2021 H.R. 712 Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 2021
  • October 8, 2019 Letter to FAA Eastern Region Adminstrator from NY Congressmembers about increase in helicopter traffic
  • June 21, 2019 Letter to FAA from NY Congressmembers Seeking Ban of Nonessential Helicopters Over NYC and a TFR 
  • Letter from NY/NJ Congressional Members to the FAA and NTSB in response to March 2018 East River Crash.
  • Regulation of North Shore of Long Island July 25, 2016 – In response to concerns from a large number of local residents regarding noise from helicopters operating over Long Island, the FAA issued the New York North Shore Helicopter Route final rule (77 FR 39911 – July 6, 2012). The rule requires civil helicopter pilots operating Visual Flight Rules (VFR), whose route of flight takes them over the north shore of Long Island between the Visual Point Lloyd (VPLYD) waypoint and Orient Point (VPOLT), the use the North Shore Helicopter Route, as published in the New York Helicopter Chart (“the Chart”).
  • 2013 NY Congressmembers’ Press Release To FAA Re Helicopter Noise