The Federal Aeronautics and Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will set up a “comprehensive complaint system” that will allow Los Angeles County residents to file complaints about helicopter noise online or by telephone.
The $250,000 project will go out for bids this year with implementation planned for early 2015, according to a press release from Rep. Adam Schiff.
Schiff lauded the move, which the press release called “the first step necessary to gather data about the extent of the problem and remedies, identify problem helicopter operators, and give residents a systematic way to register their complaints.”
“Generally speaking, I’m pleased that they’re making progress, that they’re doing something,” said West Hollywood City Councilmember Jeffrey Prang. He said that tracking complaints is one thing and that he’s “much more interested in what happens next … I’m hoping for relief.”
Prang praised Schiff for being “extremely responsive” to community priorities such as helicopter noise, which is often an issue in West Hollywood due to the city’s reputation as a playground for the rich and famous.
“West Hollywood attracts substantial media and paparazzi chasing entertainment industry personalities,” Prang previously said via a city press release. “While many of our residents enjoy the positive portrayal of our city in the news, the noise generated by the operation of these helicopters is unacceptable.”
Schiff and Sen. Dianne Feinstein earlier this year backed legislation requiring the FAA to address helicopter noise. That legislation “require[ed] the FAA to act within the year to reduce helicopter noise through voluntary measures, or be forced to put in place regulations to reduce it,” according to Schiff’s news release.
I’m glad some people are doing something and I hope that this system will contain a way for people to find out which helicopters are operated by which agency/company. I can’t wait to log a complaint about 27 times per day. Yes, the local press is sometimes a problem but most of the helicopters I see very day and night are different kinds of law enforcement who basically own the skies. We have a military helicopter that flies over our house twice every evening around 8pm and makes the windows rattle, it seems to be on a regular route. Just… Read more »
I live north of SM Blvd at Robertson. Most of the helicopters I see (and they’re low enough over my house that I can see the pilot inside the chopper) are not LAPD (no markings). At times I literally have a bird fly over the house and within 5 minutes another comes from the other direction. Every morning at around 7am I have one that comes from the same direction each morning and is low enough to rattle the windows. I’d say on an average weekend, there are probably 50+ fly overs. I”m not sure this compliant line will solve… Read more »
I agree that most of the helicopters on a day to day basis are police and sheriff owned. But those of us on the East side must put up with a ton of paparazzi and news copters every time something happens on Hollywood Blvd. They just hover for hours. It is more than annoying.
For an eternity cops on the beat, mainly on foot, always got their man. Now every news source plus LAPD takes flight like a swarm of angry bees. A few years ago someone spotted a shark off the Palisades Beach, soon every station joined the swarm terrorizing the beach goers more than any shark could have. After calling every news channel during the next 45 minutes eventually one by one they departed. Consider the fuel bill and unnecessary pollution on top of the noise. Couldn’t there be one news feed and have a lottery as to who gets first dibs… Read more »
All the helicopters I see late at night are LAPD and LASO. So were going to spend $250,000 to study why and where these helicopters are seen and heard. What a waste of time and money. A much better study should be is why those on Medicare can not use their Advantage Plans to be treated at Cedars and UCLA hospitals.
wowee, schiff really is grabbing this by the horns. he’s a real go-getter.
it’s los angeles, it’s going to be loud, it’s going to be exciting, and yes, there are going to be helicopters.
i’m so glad that $250 grand is not going to be wasted on something like homeless folk getting some help and guidance. oops, they don’t vote, or complain.
but $250,000 to study a noise nuisance issue which if political leaders would simply deal with, well….wasting my breath.
Ah yes, collect all the complaints then what? As Jeff Prang says, I’m interested in what comes next. Unfortunately I’m pretty sure the answer is nothing.