Bill Text: NJ ACR39 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges FAA to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over Hudson River in NJ.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-10-23 - Filed with Secretary of State [ACR39 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-ACR39-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 39
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANGELICA M. JIMENEZ
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblyman CHARLES MAINOR
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman JASON O'DONNELL
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Urges FAA to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over Hudson River in NJ.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
A Concurrent Resolution urging the Federal Aviation Administration to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over the Hudson River in New Jersey.
Whereas, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the federal entity that regulates the United States airspace and the modes of transportation that utilize United States airspace, has sole jurisdiction over the Hudson River airspace; and
Whereas, Approximately 700 helicopters, carrying the many tourists that visit the area each year, fly over the Hudson River into New Jersey each day to capture the views of the New York City skyline; and
Whereas, These helicopters create health and safety risks, as well as nuisance concerns, for New Jersey residents living along the Hudson River; and
Whereas, On August 8, 2009, a small private plane collided with a tourist helicopter in a low-altitude midair accident over the Hudson River near Hoboken, New Jersey; and
Whereas, As a result of the accident, the New York Airspace Task Force made recommendations, which included dividing the airspace into distinct corridors to separate planes from helicopters flying over the Hudson River and limiting helicopters to the airspace below 1,000 feet, to the FAA for the Hudson River airspace; and
Whereas, To alleviate the additional health, safety, welfare, and nuisance concerns of New York residents, the New York City Economic Development Corporation restricted tourist helicopters operating out of New York heliports from flying over Central Park, the Empire State Building, and the Borough of Brooklyn; and
Whereas, The restrictions imposed by the New York City Economic Development Corporation increased the heavy tourist helicopter traffic on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, thereby increasing the need for the FAA to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over the Hudson River in New Jersey; and
Whereas, Although New Jersey residents living along the Hudson River have filed several petitions with the FAA to prohibit tourist helicopters, the tourist helicopters that fly over the Hudson River and create health and safety risks within New Jersey airspace are still permitted by the FAA to fly over the Hudson River in New Jersey airspace; and
Whereas, On June 30, 2013, a tourist helicopter was forced to land on the Hudson River after losing power, providing another example of the need to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over the New Jersey side of the Hudson River; and
Whereas, The FAA, as the entity that can regulate the airspace over the Hudson River, is urged to consider the health, safety, and welfare of the New Jersey residents living along the Hudson River and to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over the Hudson River in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Federal Aviation Administration is urged to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over the Hudson River in New Jersey.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and President of the Senate and attested to by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Federal Aviation Administration to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over the Hudson River in New Jersey.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the federal entity that regulates the United States airspace, has sole jurisdiction over the Hudson River airspace. Each day, approximately 700 tourist helicopters fly over the Hudson River into New Jersey to view the New York City skyline. These tourist helicopters create health and safety risks and nuisance concerns for the New Jersey residents living along the Hudson River.
When a small private plane collided with a tourist helicopter in a low-altitude midair accident over the Hudson River, near Hoboken, New Jersey on August 8, 2009, the New York Airspace Task Force made recommendations to the FAA for the Hudson River airspace. To alleviate the additional concerns of New York residents, the New York City Economic Development Corporation prohibited tourist helicopters operating out of New York from flying over certain New York locations. The recommendations and restrictions increased the tourist helicopter traffic on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, thereby increasing the need for the FAA prohibition on tourist helicopters on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. However, after several petitions by New Jersey residents to the FAA, tourist helicopters are still permitted in New Jersey airspace.
On June 30, 2013, a forced landing of a tourist helicopter over the Hudson River, provided another example of the need to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. The FAA, as the only entity that can regulate the airspace over the Hudson River, is urged to consider the health, safety, and welfare of New Jersey residents along the Hudson River and to prohibit tourist helicopters from flying over the Hudson River in New Jersey.
