RECENT VICTORIES
2024: Reduced hours for tourist flights from Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH)
New York City announced that hours at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH or Wall Street Heliport) will be shortened by 3 hours per day for tourist flights, from, 9am -7pm to 10am to 5 pm.
This is a 30% reduction in the hours of operation at a heliport responsible for approximately 40% of tourist helicopter traffic over the region. The new hours are planned to start in Fall 2024 or Winter 2025, after a new heliport operator is selected by the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
2024: Upcoming removal of the West 30th Street Heliport from Hudson River Park
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that creates a process to remove the noisy and polluting West 30th Street Heliport from Hudson River Park. It is the main hub for the commuter helicopter company Blade, which flies over Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens to local airports, the Hamptons, Westchester, New Jersey, and Long Island.
The land will be restored to its original purpose as a recreational space that is part of Hudson River Park.
Prior victories in the fight against nonessential helicopters
2022 – Working with the operator of the Kearney, NJ Heliport rerouted much of the helicopter traffic away from downtown Jersey City to areas that allow for higher altitudes.
2021 – After pressure from Stop the Chop NY/NJ, NYC stopped NYC & Company, NYC’s tourist office, from promoting helicopter flights.
2016 – Stop the Chop NY/NJ and other advocates force a 50% reduction in number of tourist flights allowed from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport from 60,000 to 30,000, and eliminated all Sunday tourist flights originating from there.
2016 – Helicopters are required to observe maximum idling times.
2016 – Operator of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport is required to conduct air pollution testing and file a monthly report publishing the results.
2012 – FAA mandates the NY North Shore Helicopter Route requiring over water route after political pressure.
2010 – Industry agrees that all tourist flights originating in Manhattan will not fly over Central Park, Governors Island, or Brooklyn. They will not do fly-bys of the Empire State Building.
2010 – Tourist flights are eliminated from East 30th Street Heliport.
2010 – No short (<20 minute) tourist flights allowed.
2008 – Settlement of a lawsuit by anti-helicopter advocates forces elimination of tourist flights from the West 30th Street Heliport.
2008 - Settlement of a lawsuit by anti-helicopter advocates caps the number of flights allowed at West 30th Street at 16,250.
2005 lawsuit – Tourist flights are eliminated from West 30th Street Heliport.
1997 – East 34th Street Heliport eliminates all flights on Saturday or Sunday.
1997 – East 34th Street Heliport restricts hours of operation to 8am-8pm.
1997 – Mayor Giuliani closes East 60th Street Heliport.
1977 – Closed heliport on roof of Pan Am (Met Life) Building.
******* In 2003, Disney Corporation succeeded in getting Congress to pass a law establishing a 3-mile no-fly zone around Disney World and Disneyland. NYC deserves no less!