On March 4, the FAA issued a new final rule,
effective May 5, that would add a new category of helicopters,
classified as “Stage 3,” which meet certain noise standards. Helicopters
that are currently certified as Stage 1 or Stage 2 helicopters could be
reclassified as Stage 3 helicopters if they are upgraded with quieter
components.
According to the FAA, “these more
stringent noise certification standards adopted into U.S. regulations
will reduce noise exposure from helicopters certified in the United
States and are consistent with the FAA’s goal of harmonizing U.S.
regulations with international standards.”
While
this at first blush may sound promising, East Hampton residents are
concerned because, once helicopters are classified as Stage 3, the town
will no longer have local control in regulating those helicopters’ use
of the airport, unless the town decides to stop taking grant money from
the FAA.
“This new rule is enormously significant
for the Town of East Hampton,” said Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez,
the town board liaison to the airport, in a press release issued
Monday. “For years, the town has been advised that it could restrict
operations on Stage 1 and 2 helicopters without FAA approval…. Under the
Airport Noise and Capacity Act and Part 161 of the FAA regulations,
grant obligated airports can restrict operations by Stage 3 aircraft or
helicopters only with FAA approval. With this new rule, the FAA has now
imposed an additional hurdle for grant-obligated airports.”
Advocates
for local control of the airport have long been pushing the town to not
take any more FAA money for upgrades to the airport, since money the
airport has taken from the FAA in the past dictates whether the town has
control over limiting the aircraft that can fly into East Hampton. If
the town opts to not take any more FAA money, these so-called “grant
assurances” are slated to expire at the end of this year.
Ms.
Burke-Gonzalez said the two recently appointed sub-committees of the
Airport Planning Committee, comprised of noise abatement advocates and
members of the aviation community, are embarking on a study of the
airport’s operations, noise data and complaints ”so that the town can
narrowly define the noise problem for the purpose of identifying
potential methods to address it.”
“Upon completion
of the proposed noise analysis, the town will be considering a range of
options related to possible restrictions on helicopters as well as
fixed-wing aircraft,” she said. “As the town considers whether to remain
grant obligated after December 31, 2014…. the latest FAA rule will be a
significant consideration.”
Kathy Cunningham of
Quiet Skies Long Island warned the town board last November that the
changes to the helicopter regulations were afoot, but then-airport
liaison and councilman Dominick Stanzione asked her to wait until the
new board took office in January to deal with it.
“This makes it ever more urgent that we not accept FAA funding,” she said at the time.
At last Thursday’s town board meeting, Ms. Cunningham praised the new board’s efforts.
“I’d
like to thank Councilwoman Burke-Gonzalez for taking control with both
hands and doing great work. I’m very happy to be a part of it,” she
said.
Story and photo: http://www.eastendbeacon.com
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