For several weeks in June, Seminary Valley residents could tell it was 10:20 p.m. without looking at a clock. That was the time, almost every night, that helicopters flew over the neighborhood.
Low-flying helicopters have, for years, been among noise complaints by residents, along with loud vehicles and airplane noise.
Now, there's a website and phone number residents can call to lodge complaints. U.S. Rep. Don Beyer collaborated with the Helicopter Association International and Eastern Regional Helicopter Council to launch www.planenoise.com/dcmetro/. (Or, residents can complain through a voicemail line at (877) 209-3200.)
“Residents are encouraged to provide as much information as possible when submitting a complaint,” Beyer’s office said in a statement. This includes time of day, the address where the noise is heard and the direction of flight, if possible.
“Using available flight-track data, the system will accurately identify likely aircraft generating concerns and all associated data to help mitigate helicopter noise in our area,” Beyer noted.
