Operators Complied with Noise Abatement Routes and Altitudes on 99 Percent of Flights, with 99 Percent Compliance with the Existing Voluntary Curfew
(Long Island, NY) The Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) today released the first preliminary compliance and tracking report for the summer of 2015. As part of its ongoing commitment to work with the local communities, the ERHC tracks all aircraft operations – including general aviation, helicopters, jets, and seaplanes – into and out of East Hampton Airport for their compliance with noise abatement rules including voluntary curfews, designated routes, and altitude restrictions.
For Memorial Day weekend, only four (4) operations from 7:00am Thursday, May 21st through 9am Tuesday, May 26th, did not comply with the prescribed routes and altitude requirements on departure and/or approach, representing a 99% compliance rate. In addition, 99% of operations complied with the existing 11:00pm – 7:00am voluntary curfew (only eight (8) operations did not comply).
The ERHC tracked its total operations (meaning a takeoff OR a landing) at HTO during the holiday as follows: 118 on Thursday, May 21; 324 on Friday; 191 on Saturday; 120 on Sunday; 277 on Monday; and 29 on Tuesday. Since this number counts both takeoffs and landings of each aircraft, the total number of flights is actually half as many as reported. Approximately one-third of the total operations were helicopters.
“As we officially begin a new summer season, we want to ensure all the local communities that we remain vigilant in tracking and promoting these abatement rules and the existing curfews through a collaborative effort by ERHC, airport tower personnel and the helicopter community,” said Stephanie Reichin, spokeswoman for ERHC. “We remain deeply committed to finding a balance between ensuring that the airport can operate safely, supporting our economy and respecting our community and neighbors. The high compliance rate is the result of a concerted effort and dedicated pilots and community members; to that end, we have contacted the four pilots who did not follow the routes to rectify the mistakes and ensure they comply going forward and will continue to monitor to promote full compliance.”
