A Unified Call To Ban Tourist Helicopters Over Brooklyn Waterfront

Carroll Gardens Patch

A rally took place on Sunday

By Georgia Kral | May 16, 2011

Tourist helicopters are a real nuisance to people who live along and enjoy the South Brooklyn waterfront. From Brooklyn Heights to Red Hook, residents are calling for an end to the choppers.

"It’s time to stop the never-ending parade of tourist flights from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport," said State Senator Daniel Squadron at a rally at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Sunday. "Chopper tours can't come at the expense of our neighborhoods' quality of life."

The choppers fly directly over the waterfront after departing from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. In 2010, tourist flights were banned from the West 30th Street Heliport, forcing them to use it. Since then, there has been increased chopper noise and air traffic, said Squadron.

And now, residents and elected officials are calling for a complete ban of tourist flights from the Downtown Heliport, too.

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