HR5049-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Communities from Helicopter Noise Act.

2. Study on helicopter operations The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct a study on helicopter operations within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Administrator shall focus on the following items: The effect of persistent helicopter noise on residential and recreational areas, including— an analysis of the volume of helicopter traffic, including the time helicopters are flying and the frequency of helicopters traversing the airspace; an analysis of noise levels related to helicopter operations; an analysis of safety, health, environmental, and economic issues related to helicopter operations; an analysis of whether helicopters are following the terms and conditions of voluntary agreements, including the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Governors Island National Monument Voluntary Agreement; an analysis of the origination of helicopters traversing the airspace within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument; an analysis of the necessity of helicopter traffic within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument; an analysis of how helicopters contribute to the congestion of the airspace within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty; an projection of how electric vertical take off and landing aircraft or other advanced air mobility technologies will contribute to the congestion, noise, and safety of the airspace within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty; an analysis of the quality of life of residents living in areas with high volumes of helicopter noise; and an analysis of any other issue related to helicopter traffic on residential and recreational areas. Solutions to abate or eliminate helicopter noise on residential and recreational areas, including— the feasibility of diverting helicopters from residential and recreational areas; the feasibility of creating new flight paths for helicopters, with attention to the presence of airports within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument; an analysis of whether banning nonessential helicopters within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty will increase the overall safety, health, and environment of the community; the feasibility of establishing altitude limits for helicopter operations in and around within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument; and other options for abating helicopter noise. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the study under subsection (a).