U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) is calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to address air safety and congestion in the New York City metropolitan area.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“While aviation remains the safest form of transportation in the United States, the recent tragedy at Reagan Airport and several other alarming incidents have highlighted the urgent need for continued oversight and action from the federal government to keep it that way,” Menendez said in a statemet.
“Since coming to Congress, I have consistently worked to address the impacts of non-essential helicopter traffic, working directly with the FAA and introducing legislation to adjust traffic patterns to limit disruptions in our community and curb helicopter noise. It’s vital that the new administration ensures there is stability at the FAA and that we have the staff, resources, and rules in place to keep our passengers and aviation professionals safe.”
He led a letter that was also signed by U.S. Reps. Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Grace Meng (NY-6), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Josh Gottheimer (D-5), Nellie Pou (D-9), LaMonica McIver (D-10), and Mikie Sherrill (D-11).
” … The Trump Administration’s hiring freeze and layoffs at the Federal Aviation Administration (‘FAA’) have increased uncertainty and anxiety about the safety of air travel,” the letter, addressed to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, says.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative that the FAA prioritize a reexamination of the safety of congested airspaces such as the New York City area, address the air traffic controller shortage nationally and in New York, and act swiftly to implement the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.”
Since getting sworn into Congress in 2023, Menendez has been a leader on the issue of helicopter noise, introducing two pieces of legislation in his first term, and convening a workshop in Jersey City with FAA officials last year.
 is calling on the DOT and the FAA to address air safety and congestion in the New York City metropolitan area.){kind=link}
We thank Congressmember Robert Menendez Jr. and his co-signers of this letter to the FAA for bringing awareness to the serious issue and risks of continuing to allow nonessential helicopters to fly in the busiest United States airspace. There is no sane reason to allow sightseeing helicopters over the NYC metro area given the densely populated neighborhoods in north Jersey and NYC. The sightseeing and commuter helicopters flying from NJ and NYC heliports disturb millions of New Yorkers and Jersyites with excessive and harmful noise pollution from their extremely low flights over our residential neighborhoods, parks, and schools. The NYC metro area already has the busiest airspace with three international airports hosting jet traffic. Continuing to allow the unnecessary helicopter traffic as well is a recipe for disaster as we sadly saw in DC recently. Sign our Stop the Chop NY/NJ petitions on our website and join our cause to ban or substantially reduce this helicopter traffic.
This has become a huge problem in our area. Sightseeing helicopters and uber blades are constantly flying right over our house, criscrossing each other on their way to and from NYC. It literally shakes our house. And they’re incredibly low too – there’s absolutely no room for error. God forbid one of these things has an emergency midair. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. Very happy to see this being addressed by our congresspeople.
I applaud Congressmember Robert Menendez, Jr and the co-signers of his letter to the FAA for spearheading this effort to clear our NYC/NJ skies of dangerous, noisy, polluting helicopter joyrides. Talk about a luxury for the top 1% of the top 1%! Except that this luxury directly harms EVERYONE else by creating stress, dirt, and danger all across the crowded neighborhoods of NYC and Northern NJ. With the latest example in DC of how dangerous non-essential helicopter traffic can be in a busy airspace, we must take action now to prevent future tragedies and eliminate this public health hazard and despoiler of our quality of life.