Protecting Communities from Helicopter Noise Act

This bill, titled the Protecting Communities from Helicopter Noise Act, would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a formal study of helicopter operations within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. The study would examine how persistent helicopter noise affects nearby residential and recreational areas, including traffic volume, flight times, noise levels, and related safety, health, environmental, and economic issues. It would also assess whether helicopters are complying with existing voluntary agreements (notably involving the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island National Monuments), where helicopters originate, whether their flights are necessary, and how airspace congestion may be impacted by current and future technologies like electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and other advanced air mobility (AAM) systems. The bill requires exploring practical noise-abatement options, such as diverting traffic, creating new flight paths, considering altitude limits, and even evaluating whether banning nonessential helicopter flights would improve safety, health, or environmental outcomes. A report summarizing the study would be due to Congress within 180 days of enactment. The measure does not itself change regulations but could pave the way for future FAA actions.