Still No FAA Helicopter Noise Hearing, Despite Public Outcry

JAMESPORT, NY — Braving bitter winds and cold, a crowd of elected officials and residents turned out at Iron Pier Beach in Jamesport Wednesday to send a loud and clear message to the Federal Aviation Administration: They want a public hearing on helicopter noise — as required by law — and they want it now.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith, who convened the event, kicked off the gathering by blasting a recent forum held by the FAA in Riverhead, which, she said, was a "farce. . .a children's show and tell."

Jens-Smith spoke out against the helicopter noise that disrupts residents' quality life and also poses danger, as helicopters and sea planes fly over fuel storage tanks at Northville.

“For too long residents have had their quality of life damaged by the constant helicopter fly overs. These helicopters travel the same routes when navigating over our town resulting in the aircraft passing over people’s homes every five minutes. We need a mandated all water route to bring relief to our residents," Jens-Smith said.

And, she added that the FAA should "stop pitting the North Fork and South Forks against each other."

The FAA, she added, has been "derelict in its duties" to residents and elected officials are demanding a public hearing be held.

But when asked for a response to the press conference Wednesday, an FAA spokesman said, "The FAA plans to hold a public forum at Vaughn College in East Elmhurst, Queens, for people who couldn’t attend the Nov. 15 meeting due to bad weather. No date has yet been set for the meeting. FAA experts will attend the meeting to speak with the public, which also can ask question or submit a formal comment in writing. The format is consistent with the purpose of the directive, which is to get feedback from the communities affected by the New York North Shore Helicopter Route."

No mention was made of a public hearing.

The public comment period continues and residents can voice their thoughts here, the FAA said.

New York State Senator Ken LaValle, referencing the turbulent Long Island Sound behind him, said the raging waters reflected the "anger" among elected officials and constituents alike.

New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele said it was heartening to see both South and North Fork leaders gathered together to address the issue.

"This is nothing new," he said, adding that the woes with the FAA go back years and added that a public hearing is required by law. Thiele called for an all water route on both Forks as well as "reasonable restrictions" on the East Hampton airport.

"We are unified," he said, adding that the five East End towns need to keep working together to demand the hearing. "We're not going to stop until we get the change we need."

Suffolk County Legislators Al Krupski and Bridget Fleming also spoke. Of the Riverhead FAA meeting, Krupski said, "It was just insulting."

Fleming said while she recognized many faces, there were also many that were no longer present, families who'd moved away after being so deeply impacted by helicopter noise they'd left the community.

"The FAA didn't have a hearing because they didn't want to hear that we are united," she said. "We want an all water route and we want to actually be heard. Let's keep fighting the good fight until we reach a solution."

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell was also present but Southold Town Councilman Bob Ghosio, town board liaison to the helicopter noise committee, spoke. One problem, he said, is that the FAA assumes East End residents consider helicopter noise "background noise." But, he said, unlike city residents who may be used to helicopter noise, on the bucolic East End that noise shatters quality of life. "To us, this is a life-altering problem in the summer," Ghosio said. "It's a barrage. It changes the way you are living your life."

He urged the FAA to take away the "loopholes" of transitions by pilots.

Mark Woolley, speaking for Rep. Lee Zeldin, who was in Washington, DC, was met by angry cries from residents, asking, "Why can't you get it done?"

"This is far from done," Woolley said, adding that the public comment period is still open.

Riverhead Town Councilwoman Catherine Kent said she wanted to send a clear message to the FAA: "We will be relentless," until change takes place or the "East Hampton Airport is shut down. Our quality of life should not take a nosedive" become some can afford to fly to the East End from New York City, she said.

Riverhead Town Councilman Tim Hubbard suggested cutting funding to the FAA. "Let's hit them where it hurts," he said.

And, added Riverhead Town Councilwoman Jodi Giglio, the routes should not be at the discretion of pilots. If helicopters continue to fly over the Northville oil tanks, in the event o an accident, tragedy could ensue.

Other lawmakers, not present, sent comments.

“The FAA’s current implementation of Sec. 182 is insufficient and has not delivered a hearing for impacted communities to publicly provide their testimony to the FAA in an open forum,” said Senator Chuck Schumer. “It is my strong feeling that the FAA must comply with the law as written and hold a public hearing before an FAA panel that adequately allows the impacted communities and other stakeholders to submit meaningful testimony.”

Congressman Lee Zeldin added: “From the North Shore Helicopter Route’s planning to its continued use, the FAA has flat out ignored the residents directly affected, and, although the FAA is now forced to listen as enshrined in federal law, these ‘workshops’ have given Long Islanders a bad case of deja vu. These ‘workshops’ failed to comply with the public hearing mandated in my legislative proposal which is now law, and many strongly believe they were seemingly formatted to stifle the true negative impact of this route."

The FAA, he said, was required by law to hold a public hearing within 30 days of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which was signed into law on Oct. 5.

According to Teresa McCaskie of the Southold Town helicopter noise committee, civic leaders were present in force to join elected officials in demanding that the FAA provide a public hearing as required by the 2018 FAA Reauthorization bill, which was signed by President Donald Trump.

"The FAA instead came to Riverhead to offer a 'workshop' type of meeting on Nov. 13, which resulted in many residents being angry at the forum type of 'meeting,'" she said. "The FAA cannot change the law, as signed by the president, based on Congressman Lee Zeldin's legislation. Helicopter noise is destroying the East End."

Despite a vocal outcry from elected officials and residents alike over "workshops" held by the FAA on helicopter noise and assessment of the North Shore Helicopter Route, instead of public hearings lawmakers say are required by law — so far, the FAA has not confirmed that public hearings would be held.

When asked for comment last week, the FAA said: "We are reviewing the request."

Residents can submit their comments as part of the mandated public comment period, which ends on Jan. 2, 2019, here, Zeldin said.

The hearing were meant to follow a victory earlier in October after President Donald Trump signed into law a proposal by Zeldin that requires the FAA to reassess the North Shore Route and pursue an all-water route over the Atlantic Ocean.

Upon Congressional passage of the legislation, local lawmakers applauded the news.

"The ever increasing number of helicopters over Southold has devastated the quality of life for our residents. Southold has become a doormat to the helicopter operators as they head to and from the Hamptons," Russell said. "Rep. Zeldin's amendment is a common sense approach that will provide immediate relief to our community. I urge the FAA to follow the Congressman's lead and help him restore the quality of life of the people of Southold."

Patch photos by Lisa Finn.