Helicopter noise over New York City

City residents getting stressed by incessant helicopters

If you live in New York City or you’re planning to visit, you’ll probably experience a lot of helicopter noise.

Helicopter traffic has become a part of daily life in the New York metropolitan area. And it’s not coming from police activity nor news crews. It’s coming from tourist flights and wealthier commuters. And it’s driving many New Yorkers crazy.

Approximately 160 helicopter flights circle over New York City per day, annoying everyone in their path. And in some cases, they’ve blown people off their bicycles. In at least one case, a helicopter blew over an elderly pedestrian and caused injury during a landing.

Hamptons #helicopter landing in heliport in @HudsonRiverPark flies so low over park that it blows over people and bicycles as @StoptheChopNYNJ members and activists are meeting with a reporter. Wait for it! @MarkLevineNYC @galeabrewer @NYCComptroller @RepJerryNadler @errollouis pic.twitter.com/LBT2TA1EBa

— Adrian Benepe (@Adrian_Benepe) October 17, 2021

Stop the chop:

In this podcast episode, we learn more about non-essential helicopter flights over New York and interview members of the organization Stop the Chop NY/NJ. This nonprofit group works to protect residents and visitors, including bicyclists, joggers, rollerbladers, pedestrians, and arts in the parks. Our guests are Melissa Elstein, Andy Rosenthal, and former NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. They clearly explain some of the legal loopholes that enabled these flights to multiply over the city. We also discuss efforts to address the issue with government officials, including the proposed Federal Bill HR 1643.