Rep. Schiff hosts roundtable with Los Angeles public safety agencies to discuss ways to minimize helicopter noise

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) hosted a roundtable with homeowners and representatives of public safety agencies recently on the issue of helicopter noise in Los Angeles County. Schiff has introduced the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act (H.R. 456), which would require the FAA to set regulations relating to flight paths and altitudes for helicopter flights in Los Angeles County. The bill exempts operations related to emergency, law enforcement or military activities, and the purpose of today’s roundtable was to explore voluntary measures these agencies could undertake to reduce noise in non-emergency situations.
“Since this legislation was introduced in 2011, we have been engaged in a thoughtful conversation with all of the stakeholders – home owners associations, helicopter pilots, news agencies and other community groups – which has resulted in an FAA study and a subsequent report that we expect to be issued this week,” said Rep. Schiff. “There is little doubt that police, first responders and other public safety helicopters comprise a portion of helicopter noise in residential communities across Los Angeles County, and while these agencies, of necessity are excluded from the bill, we will be working with them to reduce their contribution to the noise when doing so would not compromise their vital operations. These agencies can contribute to the solution as well, and it’s my hope that today’s roundtable will be the first of many steps to help homeowners across Los Angeles get a little peace and quiet from helicopter noise.”
The roundtable provided an opportunity for homeowners to discuss with the public safety agencies the practices they find most disruptive and intrusive. The free flowing conversation allowed members of the Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition (LAAHNC) to also offer suggestions for how the public safety agencies could improve their interaction with the communities they fly above and minimize the disturbances on those communities. The public safety agencies – with representatives from Los Angeles Police Department, Glendale and Burbank police departments, Los Angeles City Fire, LA County Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriffs, California Highway Patrol, the Coast Guard and the U.S. Army – had the opportunity to respond to the concerns and requests of the homeowners.
This roundtable was an important first step in strengthening the homeowners’ and the public safety agencies’ understanding on this critical issue. Hopefully, it will lay the foundation for a continued dialogue and feedback that will ensure improved relations and interactions between the public safety agencies and the communities they serve.

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