Lawmakers to the Pentagon: Enough With the Helicopter Noise

Local representatives are asking the Pentagon and Federal Aviation Administration to do something about the noise from all the helicopters flying constantly around the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia region.

Any resident who lives along the Potomac River is familiar with the ceaseless noise of all types of helicopters zipping by at a low altitude, and the National Capital Region House delegation recently wrote Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta "expressing concern over the din from military helicopters in their communities," according to a June 9 statement from Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.).

The letter was signed by Reps. Comstock, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Donald S. Beyer (D-Va.), Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Washington, D.C.'s Eleanor Holmes Norton.

"This disturbance to residential areas is a constant source of concern and complaint from many constituents, even when the helicopters adhere to flight procedures and routes," the letter states. "The noise and vibrations created by these trips can be alarming, especially when passing so close to residential areas at the low altitude dictated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)."

About 144 helicopter operations take place each day in the National Capital Region, and 75 percent of them are Pentagon helicopters, the letter notes.

The fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act that was recently passed by the House of Representatives includes language that would direct the Defense Department and the FAA to "reevaluate air traffic control, air space design, airspace management, and the types of aircraft in operation, to address helicopter noise problems.

"The bill directs the Department and the FAA to develop recommendations for the reduction of military helicopter noise, taking into account the operational needs of the military while offering residents a much-needed reprieve from ubiquitous helicopter noise," the letter continues. "In this endeavor, our offices are willing to support your outreach to communities to ensure the DOD and the FAA receive the most comprehensive information regarding the effects of military helicopter noise."

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