RPVCCA_CC_SR_2011_12_20_F_House_of_Rep_HelicopterCITY OF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
REVIEWED:
Staff Coordinator:
HONORABLE MAYOR &CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS •
DENNIS McLEAN,DIRECTOR OF FINANCE &INFORMATIO
TECHNOLOGY
DECEMBER 20,2011
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE BILL 2677,LOS ANGELES
RESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER NOISE RELIEF ACT OF 2011
CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER 09--
Matt Waters,Senior Administrative Analyst e
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Mayor to sign the attached draft letter of support for House of Representative
Bill 2677,the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011 (H.R.2677),
which directs the Federal Aviation Administration to establish regulations to reduce
helicopter noise pollution in residential areas of Los Angeles County,with the proviso that a
mandatory exemption is added to the proposed legislation for emergency,law enforcement
and military activities.
BACKGROUND:
United States Representative Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys)submitted H.R.2677 on July
28,2011.The bill has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Aviation Subcommittee for review.The bill was co-authored by Representatives Brad
Sherman,Henry Waxman,and Adam Schiff.No action has been taken or scheduled on
the bill at this time.
H.R.2677,if enacted,directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)to establish
regulations to "reduce helicopter noise pollution in residential areas of Los Angeles
County".The bill calls for the FAA to issue such helicopter operation regulations within one
year of H.R .2677's enactment,which would include flight path and altitude regulations in
order to reduce helicopter noise over residential areas.No details on suggested flight
paths or altitude levels are included in the two-page bill.The bill states that the FAA
Administrator may exempt emergency,law enforcement,or military activities,but it does
not mandate an exemption.The FAA currently requires helicopters to operate "without
hazard to persons or property,"but,unlike fixed wing aircraft,it has not established
F-1
House of Representative Bill 2677,Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011
December 20,2011
Page 2 of 4
minimum altitudes for flying over populated areas.
The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved a motion to support H.R.2677
at its November 8,2011 meeting and directed its Executive Office to send letters to the
Chair and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation.The motion
submitted by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky,noted that,"Although non-emergency helicopter
use has been a problem for some time,there has recently been a proliferation of such
flights."The motion notes that neighborhoods in the Valley and the Santa Monica
Mountains have experienced a "significant increase in noise pollution,invasion of privacy,
and safety concerns"due to use of helicopters by the media,private tours,and paparazzi.
Supervisor Yaroslavsky singles out helicopter over-flights during Hollywood Bowl concerts
as a particularly egregious and recurring noise disturbance.The Motion of Support
indicates that both the Los Angeles County Sheriff and Fire Departments are "concerned
that their /:lelicopter operations are not required to be exempt from the requirements in the
regulations,and oppose the bill unless amended to require the FAA to explicitly exempt
their departments'helicopter operations."
Representative Berman is quoted in a July 29,2011 Los Angeles Times article that
helicopter traffic has reached a "ridiculous point."Representative Berman also cites the
number of helicopters during the recent 405 freeway closure as a factor.The article
quotes Richard Close,President of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association,who
opines that the issue has been increasing in recent years:"It has definitely gotten worse.
There are now more TV media helicopters,and what we've seen is helicopters out when
there's a car chase on the freeway or a fender bender or a small fire.The media loves to
use helicopters to bring the action."
Nine California Assemblymembers and two California State Senators co-signed a letter on
October 14,2011 to United State Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer requesting
that H.R.2677 be included in the pending FAA reauthorization funding bill.The letter
states that commercial helicopters in Los Angeles County are "not sufficiently regulated by
the FAA"and that the State of California and local governments cannot adopt their own
regulations.
Earlier in 2011,Representative Berman introduced a bill to the House of Representatives
that sought to grant Bob Hope Airport in Burbank and Van Nuys Airport the authority to
impose nighttime curfews on flights.This bill was ultimately rejected.Representative
Berman noted in testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation
Subcommittee meeting on October 27,2011 that draft legislation regulating helicopter flight
paths over Long Island,New York has been issued by the FAA.Representative Berman
acknowledged logistical concerns about implementing this legislation,and conceded that
there are many responsible helicopter operators.He maintained his position that
regulating helicopter flights over residential areas is an important issue that merits
Congressional action.
F-2
House of Representative Bill 2677,Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011
December 20,2011
Page 3 of 4
Discussion:
Helicopter Flights Over the City
City staff has received several complaints from residents about helicopter noise,typically
involving low-flying or hovering helicopters.Terri Haack,Terranea Resort's Managing
Director,contacted City Staff on November 9,2011 to request that H.R.2677 be brought to
the City Council for consideration.While some helicopter activity is due to emergencies
(Sheriff,Coast Guard,Fire Department,and Military),commercial,private,and media
helicopters routinely fly along the coastline or over the Peninsula.The Peninsula's
spectacular coastline and topography is an attractive location for aerial photography and
for companies offering scenic helicopter tours,which unfortunately can lead to noise
disturbances for nearby residents and businesses such as the Terranea Resort and Trump
National golf course.Residents have recently reported helicopters performing what appear
to be training maneuvers over their homes.A significant amount of helicopter activity over
the Palos Verdes Peninsula originates from Torrance Airport (TOA).Staff maintains a
close working relationship with TOA staff to better identify and address these concerns.An
effective and enforceable plan for helicopter flight paths and altitude levels would have a
positive effect on the quality of life for City and Peninsula residents.
Staff asked the City's Aviation Consultant,Williams Aviation Consultants (WAC),to review
the proposed legislation and its potential impact on the City's residents,as well as
Terranea Resort and the Trump National golf course.Due to H.R.2677's brevity and lack
of detail,an in-depth Technical Analysis is not feasible.WAC's review noted that there
could be safety concerns for the FAA to consider relating to the compression of helicopter
flights into more confined areas and altitude levels.Additionally,establishing helicopter
altitude minimums could create a potential safety conflict with fixed wing aircraft.WAC
noted that the FAA has established Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFAR)that limit
flight paths and altitudes over environmental landmarks such as the Grand Canyon due to
noise,safety and security reasons.The residential presence in such sparsely-populated
areas is miniscule,of course,in comparison to a densely-populated region such as Los
Angeles County with over 10 million residents.
Potential Difficulties and Limitations with Regulating Helicopter Fights
WAC opined that raising altitude levels for helicopters over residential populaces,or
potentially limiting flight paths to significant highways,freeways and under-populated areas
such as the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbor areas,would certainly reduce the noise
impact on our residents.While that is an admirable goal,WAC is concerned about the
feasibility of implementing such a complicated,comprehensive plan within the stated one-
year window.Noise mitigation is a concern for the FAA,but safety is its most important
mandate.Complying with H.R.2677's direction to issue regulations that reduce helicopter
noise in residential areas is a worthy but daunting task,especially considering the
complications of multiple Los Angeles County airports,numerous flight paths,flight
compression,and the significant number of general aviation aircraft.The practical aspects
of regulating and policing helicopter flights over the multiple jurisdictions that compose Los
Angeles County will also be a formidable logistical challenge.
F-3
House of Representative Bill 2677,Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011
December 20,2011
Page 4 of 4
The bill,as written,does not mandate that the FAA exempt emergency,law enforcement
and military exceptions in any regulations issued in response to the enactment of H.R.
2677,only that it may exempt them.The Los Angeles County Fire Department and the
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department have both expressed support for H.R.2677,
provided that its language be altered to include a mandatory exemption for emergency,law
enforcement and military activities.Staff's recommendation also calls for modified
language exempting public safety helicopter use.
Potential Impact on Torrance Airport Helicopter Routes and Long Beach Airport Airspace
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes supported two proposed airspace modifications in 2011 :
TOA's helicopter route and altitude adjustments;and a revised Long Beach Airport Class C
airspace designation ("2011 LGB Proposal").The TOA helicopter routes have been
submitted'for review by the FAA.If approved,the modified South Crenshaw route is
expected to both reduce flights over more densely-populated Rancho Palos Verdes
neighborhoods and also reduce the noise impacts on City residents.It is important to note
that the routes proposed by the City of Torrance are "suggested routes"only,and do not
limit helicopter pilots from flying over residential areas.Moreover,since H.R.2677 would
apply to all residential areas in the South Bay,its potential impact on helicopter operations
is much broader in scope than TOA's proposed route modifications.
The "2011 LGB Proposal"is primarily concerned with fixed-wing aircraft,not helicopter
flights.The City of Rancho Palos Verdes,along with neighboring Peninsula and South Bay
cities,businesses and residents,opposed a 2010 proposal that would have led to
increased over-flights and would have had serious unintended safety and noise
consequences.The 2011 LGB Proposal,based on WAC's Technical Analysis,
substantially addressed these concerns.City Council sent a letter of support to the FAA on
October 4,2011 and staff continues to closely monitor the issue..
Due to the lack of detail in H.R.2677,the precise impact,if any,on either the Torrance
Airport helicopter routes or on the 2011 Long Beach Proposal cannot be reliably
determined.While crafting practical and enforceable regulations will be a challenge forthe
FAA and the aviation community,the bill has the potential to reduce helicopter-based noise
disturbances for residents in Rancho Palos Verdes and throughout Los Angeles County.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no identifiable financial impact resulting from support of H.R.2677.
ATTACHMENTS:
Mayoral Letters of Support to Representatives Petri and Costello
11 i h Congress 1st Session House of Representatives Bill No.2677
County of Los Angeles Motion to Support H.R.2677
Letter of support from California Assemblymembers and Senators
Los Angeles Time Article on H.R.2677 (July 29,2011)
Representative Berman October 27,2011 Press Release
F-4
December 20,2011
The Honorable Tom Petri
Chair,Subcommittee on Aviation
United States House of Representatives
Dear Representative Petri:
On behalf of the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,I am pleased to
offer our support for H.R.2677,the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise
Relief Act of 2011 with the proviso that the bill's language be modified to include
a mandatory exemption for emergency,law enforcement and military activities.
H.R.2677,submitted by Representative Howard Berman,could have a
significant positive impact on the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes and
neighboring communities.Rancho Palos Verdes attracts a significant number of
commercial and private helicopters due to its miles of coastline and spectacular
topography.Additionally,the Palos Verdes Peninsula is in close proximity to
Torrance Airport,which is home to a major helicopter manufacturer and a large
fleet of helicopters.Residents of our City have lodged complaints about noise
disturbances caused by low-flying helicopters in residential areas.
Our Council understands and appreciates the difficulty of undertaking such a
challenging task in an area as large and complicated as Los Angeles County
airspace.Please accept this letter as formal recognition of the City of Rancho
Palos Verdes' support for H.R.Bill 2677 with the afore-mentioned modification.
Sincerely,
Anthony Misetich
Mayor
cc:City Council Members
City Manager
Representative Howard Berman
F-5
December 20,2011
The Honorable Jerry Costello
Ranking Member,Subcommittee on Aviation
United States House of Representatives
Dear Representative Costello:
On behalf of the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,I am pleased to
offer our support for H.R.2677,the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise
Relief Act of 2011 with the proviso that the bill's language be modified to include
a mandatory exemption for emergency,law enforcement and military activities.
H.R.2677,submitted by Representative Howard Berman,could have a
significant positive impact on the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes and
neighboring communities.Rancho Palos Verdes attracts a significant number of
commercial and private helicopters due to its miles of coastline and spectacular
topography.Additionally, the Palos Verdes Peninsula is in close proximity to
Torrance Airport,which is home to a major helicopter manufacturer and a large
fleet of helicopters.Residents of our City have lodged complaints about noise
disturbances caused by low-flying helicopters in residential areas.
Our Council understands and appreciates the difficulty of undertaking such a
challenging task in an area as large and complicated as Los Angeles County
airspace.Please accept this letter as formal recognition of the City of Rancho
Palos Verdes'support for H.R.Bill 2677 with the afore-mentioned modification.
Sincerely,
Anthony Misetich
Mayor
cc:City Council Members
City Manager
Representative Howard Berman
F-6
u.s.GOVERNMEN:;;INFORMATION
GPO
I
112THCONGRESS H R 26771STSESSION
•••
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to issue
regulations to reduce helicopter noise pollution in residential areas of
Los Angeles County,California,and for other purposes .
.'
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUTJY 28,2011
Mr.BERMAN introduced the following bill;which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration to issue regulations to reduce helicopter noise
pollution in residential areas of Los Angeles County,
California,and for other purposes.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States ofA.merica in Oongress assembled,
3 SECTION 1.SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as the "Los Angeles Residen-
5 tial Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011".
6 SEC.2.RESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER NOISE RELIEF.
7 (a)REGULATIONS REQUIRED.-Not later than 1 year
8 after the date of enactment of this Act,the Administrator
F-7
2
1 of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue regula-
2 tions for helicopter operations in Los Angeles County,
3 California,that include requirements relating to the flight
4 paths and altitudes associated with such operations to re-
5 duce helicopter noise pollution in residential areas,
6 (b)EXEMPTIONS PERMITTED.-In issuing regula-
7 tions under subsection (a),the Administrator may exempt
,,8 helicopter operations related to emergency,law enforce-
9 ment,or military activities from requirements described
lOin such subsection.
o
.BB.2677 m F-8
County of Los Angeles
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street,Room 713,Los Angeles,California 90012
(213)974-1101
http://ceo.lacounty.gov
WILLIAM T FUJIOKA
Chief Executive Officer
November 4,2011
Board of Supervisors
GLORIA MOLINA
First District
MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS
Second District
ZEV YAROSLAVSKY
Third District
DON KNABE
Fourth District
MICHAEL D.ANTONOVICH
Fifth District
To:
From:
Mayor Michael D.Antonovich
Supervisor Gloria Molina
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky
Supervisor Don Knabe
William T Fujioka
Chief Executive Officer
MOTION TO SUPPORT H.R.2677,LOS ANGELES RESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER
NOISE RELIEF ACT OF 2011 (ITEM NO.3,AGENDA OF NOVEMBER 8,2011)
Item No.3 on the November 8,2011 Agenda is a motion by Supervisor Yaroslavsky to
support H.R.2677,the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011;direct
the Executive Office to send letters to Representatives Tom Petri and Jerry Costello,the
Chair and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation;and direct the
County's Legislative advocates in Washington,D.C.to advocate for the most effective
regulations possible,which recognize the unique needs of Los Angeles County's residential
neighborhoods,environmental resources,and cultural attractions.
H.R.2677 is a bill,introduced by Representative Howard Berman (D-CA),which would
require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),to issue,within
12 months of the bill's enactment,regulations for helicopter operations in Los Angeles
County that include requirements relating to the flight paths and altitudes associated
with such operations to reduce helicopter noise pollution in residential areas.The bill
provides that the Administrator of the FAA may exempt helicopter operations related to
emergency,law enforcement,or military activities from the requirements.H.R.2677
was introduced on July 28,2011,and referred to the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee,which has not yet scheduled any action on the bill.
If the bill is enacted,the regulations issued by the FAA could apply to the helicopter
operations of the County Sheriff's and Fire Departments though the FAA may exempt
helicopter operations related to emergency or law enforcement activities from its
ITo Enrich Lives Through Effective And Caring Service"
Please Conserve Paper-This Document and Copies are Two-Sided
Intra-County Correspondence Sent Electronically Only F-9
Each Supervisor
November 4,2011
Page 2 .
!'.,.•.: "
requirements.Both the County Sheriff's and Fire Departments are concerned that their
helicopter operations are not required to be exempt from the requirements in the
regulations,and oppose the bill unless amended to require the FAA to explicitly exempt
their departments'helicopter operations.
Because there is no existing Board-approved policy relating to the FAA's
regulation of helicopter operations in the County,support for this motion is a
matter for Board policy determination.
WTF:RA
MR:MT:sb
c:Executive Office,Board of Supervisors
County Counsel
Agenda Memos 2011/age 3_110811 F-10
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR lEV YAROSLAVSKY
AGN.NO._
November 1,2011
United States Representative Howard Berman,D-Van Nuys has introduced the
Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011,H.R.2677.The bill would
direct the Federal Aviation Administration to restrict helicopter flight paths and establish
minimumaltitudes,Although non-emergency helicopter use has been a problem for
some tim~,there has recently been a proliferation of such flights.Neighborhoods in the
San Fernando Valley and in the Santa Monica Mountains have been inundated with
media,tours and paparazzi helicopters resulting in significant increase in noise pollution,
invasion of privacy and safety concerns.Continuing disturbing noise intrusion by
hovering helicopters over the famous Hollywood Bowl creates egregious impacts for as
many as 18,000 patrons a night during their season.
I,THEREFORE,MOVE that the Board of Supervisors support H.R.2677,the
Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011,and direct the Executive
Office to send a letter of support to the Honorable Tom Petri,Chair,Subcommittee on
Aviation,U.S.House of Representatives and to the Honorable Jerry Costello,Ranking
Member,Subcommittee on Aviation,U.S.House of Representatives.
I FURTHER MOVE that the Board of Supervisors direct the County's legislative
advocates in Washington D.C.to,following passage of the appropriate legislation,
MOTION
MOLINA
RIDLEY-THOMAS _
YAROS LAVS KY
KNABE
ANTONOVICH F-11
advocate for the most effective regulations possible,which recognize the unique needs
of Los Angeles County's residential neighborhoods,environmental resources,and
cultural attractions.
GK s:/motion/Helicopter Noise Relief HR 2677
-.
2
F-12
STATE CAPITOL
P.O.BOX 94:2849
SACRAMENTO,CA 94.249-0115
October 14,2011
Honorable Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington,D.C.20510
Dear Senatdrs Feinstein and Boxer:
Honorable Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington,D.C.20510
We are writing to request that the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Reffet Act ot 2011,H.R.
2677,be included in the pending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)reauthorization.This important
legislation,authored by Representative Howard Berman and co-authored by Representatives Brad
Sherman,Henry Waxman,and Adam Schiff,would require the Administrator of the FAA to issue
regulations for helicopter operations in the County of Los Angeles within one year after the bill becomes
law.
The operations of commercial helicopters in the County of Los Angeles are not sufficiently regulated by
the FAA,while,at the same time,the State of California and local governments are precluded from
adopting our own regulations.The number of commercial helicopters operating in our reg.ion
necessitates a uniform policy regarding flight paths and minimum altitudes to address such issues as
noise pollution and proximity to homes and other aircraft.
H.R.2677 would provide much needed relief for Los Angeles'residents,who are suffering from the noise
of low-flying helicopters above their residential neighborhoods at all hours of the day and night We urge
your support for this legislation and stand ready to offer any assistance we can provide.Thank you.for
your continued leadership.
Sincerely,
Mike Feuer
Assemblymember,42 hd District
Ed Hernandez,O,D.
Senator,24th District
07~#Ur-
Isadore Hall III
Assemblymember,52 0d District
Printed on Recycled Paper
Julia Brownley
Assemblymember,41 st District
~-\t;~
Holly Mitchell
Assemblymember,4ih District
Bob Blumenfield
Assemblymember,40th District
F-13
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
October 14,2011
Page 2
~.~
Gil Cedillo
Assemblymember,45 th District
Warren Furutani
Assernblymember,55th District
4~.
Curren D.Price,Jr.
Senator,261h bistrict
TedW.Lieu
Senator,28 th District
a1-tuJ~~
Anthony Portantino
Assemblymember,44th District
F-14
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
October 14,2011
Page 3
Carol Liu
Senator,21 st District
'iit,Ptit
Mike GCltto
Assistant Pro Tempore
Assemblyman 43rd District
~~
Steven Bradford
Assemblymember,51 sl District
<
f~
lexP dilla
Senator.20th District
~..·~.m~u
Gloria Negrete McLeod
Senator,32nd District
'lJt
Mike Eng
Assemblymem bf:l,f.<f~-..J,J
13~~~Cfia{
Bonnie Lowenthal
Assemblymember,54 th District
CC:Each Member,Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation
F-15
L.A.helicopter noise:House bill targets Los Angeles County helicopter noise -Los Ange...Page 1 of 3
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House bill targets helicopter noise in L.A.
County
A San .Fernando Valley congressman's measure 1.l.Iould require
the .FAA to establish rules onflight paths and minimum
altitudes over residential areas.'We've been getting lots of
complaints,'he said.
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News
Berman
Helicopter Noise
July 29,2011 I By Richard Simon and Kate Mather,Los Angeles Times
Angelenos have long complained about the noise of helicopters hovering over Southern California
neighborhoods -and one politician is hoping he can finally ensure some peace and quiet.
Rep.Howard L.Berman (D-Valley Village)introduced legislation Thursday targeting noise from low-
flying helicopters above Los Angeles County's residential neighborhoods.
Berman's Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act would require the Federal Aviation
Administration to establish rules on flight paths and minimum altitudes for helicopter operations in
those areas within a year of the bill's being signed into law.Exemptions would be allowed for emergency
responders and the military.
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"We've been getting lots of complaints,"Berman said outside the House chamber.
Chopper traffic has reached the "ridiculous point,"he added,citing helicopter charters to view
"earmageddon,"the traffic disaster that wasn't from the weekend shutdown of a section of the 405
Freeway.
Richard Close,president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.,agreed that the helicopters hovering
over the closed freeway were a tipping point in residents'frustration,but said the issue has been building
over years.
"It has definitely gotten worse,"he said."There are now more TV media helicopters,and what we've seen
is helicopters out when there's a car chase on the freeway or a fender bender or a small fire ....The media
loves to use helicopters to bring the action."
But,Close said,it's also a matter of privacy.
"With the helicopter cameras,there is no privacy in one's own backyard,"he said."If a person was in a
house or apartment building next door to a person's property looking in,they'd be called peeping Toms.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/29/local/la-me-helicopters-20110729 11/10/2011F-16
L.A.helicopter noise:House bill targets Los Angeles County helicopter noise -Los Ange...Page 2 of 3
This is a form of peeping Toms with no accountability."
Matt Zuccaro,president of Helicopter Assn.International,a Virginia-based trade group,said his industry
has been working with communities to reduce the effect of helicopter operations on neighborhoods.
"We're extremely sensitive as an industry to the impact that we have on communities that we fly over,"he
said."I don't think the fix is to come up with a new legislative initiative."
The bill could face difficulty in the House,controlled by regulatory-wary Republicans who rejected an
effort by Berman and fellow San Fernando Valley lawmakers earlierthis year to give Burbank's Bob Hope
Airport and Van Nuys Airport authority to impose nighttime curfews.
But Berman noted that Sen.Charles E.Schumer CD-N.Y.)earlier this year won Senate approval for an
amendment to an FAA bill requiring the agency to adopt rules to reduce helicopter noise above Long
Island.
"Here,there are safety issues as well as noise issues,"Berman said,vowing to press the legislation with
Rep.John L.Mica CR-Fla.),influential chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
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Complaints over helicopters crop up frequently in Southern California,often when celebrities are involved.
Residents were notably annoyed when helicopters flew over Forest Lawn in 2009 during Michael Jackson's
funeral,the Hollywood Hills after Paris Hilton's 2007 arrest and Brentwood after O.J.Simpson was
acquitted in 1995.
The FAA declined to comment on Berman's proposal.The agency requires helicopters to operate "without
hazard to persons or property"but does not set minimum altitudes over population areas as it does for
planes.
richard.simon@/atimes.co1n
katheline.mathel·@/atimes.com
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http://articles.latimes.com/20 l1/jul/29/locaVla-me-helicopters-20 11 0729 11/10/2011F-17
Congressman Howard Berman (CA28)::Press Release::Rep.Berman Highlights The N...Page 1 of 4
F or Immediate Release
October 27,2011
CONTACT:Gabby Adler
202.225.8110
Rep.Berman Highlights The Need To Bring Order To LA Skies In Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee Roundtable
Washington,D.C.-Today,Congressman Howard Berman testified in front of the
House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee on the growing
safety and noise concerns among Valley residents caused by low-flying helicopters
above residential neighborhoods.Earlier this year Congressman Berman introduced
H.R.2677,the Los Angeles Helicopter Noise Relief Act,to bring order to our skies
by requiring the FAA to regulate helicopter operations above Los Angeles.
"Today's roundtable was an important next step towards securing reasonable
guidelines on helicopter operations above Los Angeles,"said Congressman Berman.
"I'm looking forward to continuing my work with all interested parties to advance
this cause and address the safety concerns and noise complaints shared by Valley
residents."
Today's House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee roundtable
was held at the request of Congressman Berman.Last month the Congressman sent a
letter to the Chairman and Ranking member of the subcommittee requesting the
panel review the issue of helicopter noise and safety concerns in metropolitan areas.
Please see below for a copy of Congressman Berman's full remarks during today's
Aviation Subcommittee's roundtable on helicopter operations in metropolitan areas.
I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Petri and Ranking Member
Costello for holding this roundtable and permitting me to appear before the
Subcommittee.
I would also like to thank the other participants from the FAA,the NTSB,and
the helicopter industry for joining me today.
And in addition,I would like to apologize that the original witness scheduled
to testify from the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association in Sherman Oaks,
CA was unable to attend the roundtable.
Representing a broad swath of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles,I
constantly hear from my constituents whose homes are buzzed by low flying
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helicopters at all hours.
Of course living in a major metropolitan area such as LA,helicopter noise has
long been a fact of life.
However,the recent "Carmegaddon"in LA,where the 405 freeway -a major
commuting artery -was closed for a weekend only exacerbated the
longstanding problem of helicopter noise over residential areas.
Helicopters were flying over people's houses with reckless abandon to view
the freeway.
Never have my constituents seen such a heavy volume of helicopter traffic
.over their homes.
To illustrate this,I would like to present the Subcommittee with a letter
addressed to the Chairman and Ranking Member from the Sherman Oaks
Homeowners Association detailing the many concerns raised by local
homeowners over excessive helicopter noise in residential areas of LA.
Working with the local community,I drafted the Los Angeles Residential
Helicopter Noise Relief Act,legislation which would give the FAA the
authority to set minimum altitudes and flight paths for helicopter traffic in LA
country.
The legislation has received widespread support within the community,not
only from local homeowners associations,but also from numerous members of
the California State Assembly,the Los Angeles City Council,and the Los
Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
My bill is modeled on a similar amendment Chuck Schumer managed to
include in the Senate version of the FAA authorization bill covering helicopter
flights in Long Island.
To clarify,the bill is only limited to LA County,and that's because of the
extraordinary number of helicopters operating in the skies above LA.
And of course LA is unique in having helicopters operated by tourism
companies or the paparazzi hover over residential areas to peer into celebrity
homes or to just get an eagle eye view of the Hollywood sign.
With such a large number of helicopters jockeying for a limited amount of
airspace,it's only a matter of time before we have a serious accident or worst.
I fully understand the concerns about my legislation that have been expressed
by the FAA,the helicopter industry and others.
But the status quo is simply not acceptable to my constituents.
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Yes,there are many responsible helicopter operators,and I'm pleased that they
represented before the Subcommittee today.
But unfortunately the old axiom that one bad apple spoils bunch is certainly
true here.
F or all the outreach,communication,and education that responsible helicopter
operators undertake,it only takes one pilot who wants a close-up of a
celebrity's backyard or to view the Hollywood sign by moonlight to ruin the
quality of life of an entire community.
If the Subcommittee would not mind,I would also like to present this article
.published over the summer in the New York Times which vividly illustrates
how certain helicopter operators can freely and fragrantly disturb communities
by gratuitously hovering over homes and neighborhoods.
In this article,a helicopter tour operator is described circling 100 feet over
people's homes,with the pilot callously gloating to the reporter:"People don't
understand what's really going on.They really can't do anything.I could buzz
you as long as I keep my distance.We are legal.They don't control the air
space."
I also understand the FAA's concerns about the operational difficulties
associated with regulating helicopter flight paths,but I think surely a
compromise can be found which allows controllers maximum flexibility while
ensuring that my constituents'quality of life and safety isn't undermined.
That's why my legislation does not specify exact flight paths or minimum
altitudes.
I think we can all agree that Congress shouldn't be in the position of directing
air traffic.It should be left up to the FAA -as my bill would do.
If the FAA can see fit to set minimum altitudes for aircraft over Disneyland
and Disneyworld,and issue draft regulations for helicopter traffic over Long
Island,I don't see why we can't come to a common sense agreement over
helicopter traffic in Los Angeles.
I'm open to working with the FAA,helicopter operators,and other interested
parties to further refine this legislation and ensure that the interests of
controllers,operators,and homeowners are fairly balanced.
However the system we have today fails miserably in that regard.
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