Supervisors Back Limits on Low-Flying Copters

The Board of Supervisors Tuesday supported federal legislation to limit low-flying helicopters and cut down on noise from news and tour choppers in Los Angeles County.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky recommended that the board support the bill by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, which would direct the Federal Aviation Administration to restrict helicopter flight paths and set minimum altitudes for such craft within 12 months. The Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act would apply specifically to Los Angeles County.

Neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley and the Santa Monica Mountains have been inundated with news, tour and paparazzi helicopters, Yaroslavsky said. Such flights invade residents' privacy, raise safety concerns and create noise pollution that aggravates residents and disrupts performances at the Hollywood Bowl, he said.

But industry advocates say that the bill could have unintended consequences.

The Los Angeles-based Professional Helicopters Pilots Association said that airspace and altitude restrictions could create air traffic congestion and conflicts between helicopters and aircraft. The association says it has taken steps to regulate itself.

"The helicopter industry has gone above and beyond compliance with all regulations," working with the FAA to develop guidelines for "flying neighborly" and enhancing air safety, the group originally said in response to the news of the Berman bill.

But Yaroslavsky said that despite what he called "lip service" about flying neighborly, operators have been "brazen and bragging" about the ability to fly low enough to see into residents' backyards.

The sheriff's and fire departments had raised concerns that the bill does not require the FAA to exempt their operations. But Berman has agreed to amend the bill to make an exception for emergency, law enforcement and military activities mandatory, according to a Yaroslavsky aide.

The legislation  has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Aviation for consideration.

The board voted to send a letter of support for the bill to the chair and one ranking member of that committee, and to have the county's legislative advocates follow the bill.

-- City News Service