New rules around when, where and how low helicopters can fly may mean quieter nights for local residents.
U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) announced Tuesday that new rules that will raise helicopter flight altitudes and alter flight paths to give residents some relief from noise.
Last year, Beyer helped start a data analysis program based in part on noise complaints from residents. That information helped inform the new rules. U.S. Rep. Don Beyer collaborated with the Helicopter Association International and Eastern Regional Helicopter Council to launch www.planenoise.com/dcmetro. (Or, residents could complain through a voicemail line at (877) 209-3200.) That project will continue to assess how the new rules are affecting noise levels.
“Since I took office over eight years ago, helicopter noise has been a constant source of complaints from constituents across Northern Virginia. Here in the nation’s capital with military, medical, commercial and other aviation, aircraft noise will always be with us — but there are things we can do to help reduce the impact on residents,” said Beyer.
It is not clear how quickly the measures will take effect.
“The actions we announced today with partners at the federal and local level and our friends at HAI include FAA changes to helicopter flight paths and regional jurisdiction funding to continue the valuable complaint tracking system which helped inform those changes. These actions are a direct response to community input, and I thank the many people whose efforts helped inform the actions we are announcing today, as well as our partners across levels of government who are acting to reduce helicopter noise in Northern Virginia,” Beyer said.
