“a trial helicopter noise reporting system is now operational in the National Capital Region”

photo by atherahsan

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus and a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, announced that a trial helicopter noise reporting system is now operational in the National Capital Region (NCR). The trial system is run by the Eastern Region Helicopter Council and the Helicopter Association International. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will evaluate the results of the trial system.

In January 2021, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the FAA establish a mechanism to exchange helicopter noise information with helicopter operators in the NCR. While the FAA concurred with the recommendation, the FAA now believes that federal privacy laws may prohibit it from establishing such a mechanism itself. The GAO study on helicopter noise in the NCR was requested by Norton and other NCR House members.

“While I am concerned that the FAA is not operating the trial helicopter noise reporting system itself, it is important that helicopter noise issues be submitted to the system, so that we can have a better idea which operators are causing noise problems and where they are concentrated,” Norton said. “I look forward to learning the results of the system.”

Residents can submit helicopter noise issues to the trial helicopter noise reporting system via website, mobile app, or by calling 877-209-3200.

Norton has taken several steps this Congress to combat helicopter noise in the District of Columbia, including:

She has introduced a bill that would require the FAA to submit recommendations to Congress on how to reduce helicopter noise in D.C.

She has introduced a bill that would require helicopters in D.C. to fly at the maximum altitude permitted by the FAA in D.C., with limited exceptions.

She has sent separate letters to the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Park Service asking them to fly their helicopters in D.C. at higher altitudes, limit nighttime flights and flights over residential areas, and provide advance notice to residents of prolonged training missions in particular areas.

She has introduced a bill that would require the FAA to implement GAO’s recommendation that the FAA establish a mechanism to exchange helicopter noise information with helicopter operators in the NCR.”