Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Hell No: Residents, Lawmakers Protest Helicopter Traffic In Lower Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 9, 2010
Modified Apr 9, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 9, 2010
Modified Apr 9, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The annoying, constant whirring of tour helicopters has been driving Brooklyn residents crazy, and today, lawmakers gathered to ask the city to enact measures to better "protect the safety of helicopter users and the quality of life of neighborhood residents" with these three steps: "Implement a 311 protocol for receiving, responding to and addressing helicopter complaints; Increase oversight and planning of the helicopter industry, with a focus on reducing, if not eliminating, tourist helicopter traffic; and Conduct an assessment of security risks involved in storing fuel at the downtown heliport."
State Senator Daniel Squadron (D) said, "New York is the greatest city in the world, whether at ground level or from the sky. But the never-ending parade of choppers rattles neighborhoods and raises serious concerns about safety," while Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D) said, "I have long been critical of the ‘wild west’ nature of our airspace. Unfortunately it took a deadly crash over the Hudson last summer to bring about minor improvements. But much more needs to be done from both a safety and quality of life perspective. I am having discussions with the FAA on how to accomplish this, but as the owner and operator of the downtown heliport the City must do its part. I call on the Mayor to address this issue and work with us to greatly reduce tourist flights which are both a safety and a quality of life issue for New York City residents. Tourists don’t come to NYC for an exorbitant 15 minute windshield view of our city.” More statements from lawmakers and other concerned community members after the jump.
Brooklyn Heights Blog has been raising the issue and proposed a four hour daily quiet—and offered this video:
More quotes about helicopter situation over lower Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn:
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez said, “Without proper coordination between the City and FAA, helicopter traffic has fallen through the regulatory cracks. Taking care of relentless helicopter noise is a quality of life issue for New Yorkers on both sides of the East River. More importantly, addressing this issue is a question of safety for helicopter users, as well as those on the ground. Tourists can find equally spectacular views of the skyline at Brooklyn Bridge Park or the Brooklyn Heights Promenade without noise that disrupts the community.”
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said, “Helicopter noise is a REAL quality of life issue. Low flying helicopters are loud, send off vibrations that rattle houses and make it impossible to find peace and quiet for residents living in the paths of flights, not to mention create a potential, as we’ve seen, for real human tragedy in the case of accidents. Residents on the West Side of Manhattan were able to successfully remove helicopter traffic from their waterfront and we have the same goal in Brooklyn. We have a beautiful waterfront park here too. We just ask that the City address Brooklyn’s concerns and limit needless helicopter noise in our Brooklyn sky!”
Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, said, “The closure of a heliport on Manhattan’s West Side shouldn’t lead to an automatic disruption for residents along the East River. I join my colleagues in government in asking the City to take a second look at the increased tourist helicopter traffic, which is threatening the safety and quality of life of residents. We don’t want our coasts to become aerial highways.”
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “I have great concern that the closure of the 30th Street heliport will increase helicopter traffic into the downtown community. It is incumbent on the City and Port Authority to ensure that the local residents and businesses of Lower Manhattan are not unduly impacted by these additional flights.”
Assembly Member Joan Millman said, “The largely unregulated helicopter flights that imperil tourists and residents and disturb the peace all day is intolerable and dangerous. We need the FAA and EDC to quickly develop a comprehensive plan to address the excessive volume of flights, the noise complaints, and other safety issues we are suffering with each and every day. It is irresponsible to have so many helicopters using this heliport without a comprehensive safety plan.”
Council Member Gale A. Brewer said, “The number of low-flying tourist helicopters over the West Side and Central Park has become intolerable. All through the Easter weekend West Siders were calling and emailing me about this worsening condition. The noise drowns out even normal conversation in people's homes, and even closing all the windows on a beautiful spring day does little to keep out the continuous sound of low flying helicopters. The residents of the West Side did not move here to live next to an airport, nor do they pay their taxes to do so. We have met with city and federal agencies, as well as the industry, over the last 18 months. I have sponsored press conferences, convened meetings, held protests at the heliports, written letters and collaborated with other elected officials to try to address this issue. Congressman Jerrold Nadler has been particularly helpful, but we are told by the FAA that they are powerless to curtail the tourist helicopter flights. I will continue to work with all parties to seek a reasonable limit and ultimately an end to the tourist flights over Manhattan.”
Council Member Margaret Chin said, “Helicopters are a major concern here in lower Manhattan and throughout the City. They are a noise problem for residents, creating unnecessary disturbances. And moreover, they are a safety hazard. We all saw the unfortunate results of the free-for-all in our skies with last year’s crash on the Hudson. Something must be done to limit the number, frequency, and uses of these helicopter flights, and to improve safety and quality of life for residents of lower Manhattan and New York City.”
Council Member Steve Levin said, “I stand with my fellow elected officials to strongly urge the City to amend their policy on helicopter tourism. Not only does the constant flow of helicopters pose serious concerns, it is also a severe detriment on our quality of life. Brooklyn’s newest park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, which recently opened, features spectacular views and provides a beautiful space for recreation and relaxation. However, it is difficult to enjoy this amazing new park with the constant deafening roar of helicopters overhead. As both Councilmember for the area and a member of the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Committee, I urge the City to limit helicopter tourism over our great city.”
Julie Menin, Chairperson of Manhattan Community Board 1, said, “After all that the Lower Manhattan community has gone through after 9/11, and the myriad safety concerns that the neighborhood still faces, it is more than time for a complete overhaul and re-examination of the regulatory framework surrounding helicopter traffic to prevent a catastrophic accident from occurring. It is high time to address this safety concern before any additional accidents occur.”
John Dew, Chair of Brooklyn Community Board 2, said, “Relocating tourist helicopter service to heavily congested residential communities is both unfair and counterproductive. The noise pollution that is generated by this activity is intolerable. The community has struggled with creating areas of quiet enjoyment within the new Brooklyn Bridge Park. The addition of regular tourist helicopter service will render this park practically unusable. The city must explore alternative sites.”
Judy Stanton, Executive Director for the Brooklyn Heights Association, said, “The helicopter activity above Brooklyn Heights has reached intolerable levels. Residents compare their indoor experience of incessant noise from helicopters to ‘jackhammers in the sky’. We see six at a time, hovering above the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, waiting to land, and an equal number idling on the helipad, waiting to take off. Additionally, we see a large number of low-flying helicopters, up to 30 an hour, originating elsewhere and flying over the Heights below FAA radar, that is below 1500 feet. This is not only a noise issue it is a safety issue.”
Doreen Gallo, Executive Director for the DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance, said, “The DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance is very concerned about the saturation of helicopter traffic and noise throughout the Brooklyn Waterfront and Historic District neighborhoods. The community has worked for decades toward the creation of a continuous, open space, waterfront park. An increase in helicopter traffic is a distraction to the livability, quality of life in DUMBO and our surrounding neighborhoods.”
Gus Sheha, a Board Member of the DUMBO Neighborhood Foundation, said, “It is hypocritical for the mayor, who touts his administration’s progress on cracking down on noise pollution, to condone one of the biggest violators of noise-limiting ordinances - the helicopter industry. Citizens and tourists alike should not feel as if they are in a war zone as dozens of choppers crisscross the sky at any given time.”
Bill Stein, a member of the Fulton Ferry Landing Association, said, “The newly opened park was relaxing and enjoyable for exactly 10 days - and then the helicopter invasion began. The tourist flights must be eliminated.”
Tagged
brooklyn
brooklyn heights
helicopter
lower manhattan
manhattan
noise
quality of life
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
Because she's 18 years old now, here are your early links: The RHONY castmember mentioned in the Epstein Files, killing rats with carbon monoxide, Selena Gomez says don't vape and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 8:26 a.m. ET
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
Ulrich, a former city councilmember, is accused of trading access and favors for cash and bribes. He was the first aide to Mayor Adams charged with public corruption.
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
News
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
Ulrich, a former city councilmember, is accused of trading access and favors for cash and bribes. He was the first aide to Mayor Adams charged with public corruption.
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.
By
Caroline Lewis
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
By
Walter Wuthmann
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .