Two congressmen have introduced the Communities Before Air Tourism Act, which would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Park Service (NPS) to consult with communities under air-tour routes before entering into voluntary agreements with helicopter operators. This could affect helicopter routes that seek to offer a bird’s eye view of Statue of Liberty National Monument.
“Helicopter tour routes that circle the Statue of Liberty and Liberty State Park also pass directly over our homes across Hudson County, often at shockingly low altitudes,” said Nick Wierda, founding member of Safe Skies Hudson County. “Congressman Menendez’s Communities Before Air Tourism Act affirms what our neighborhoods have been saying for years: the voices and well-being of overflown communities must finally be part of federal decision-making. We strongly support this effort.”
Currently, the FAA and NPS may enter voluntary agreements with air tour operators under a section of law intended to protect national parks, park visitors, and the national aviation system. However, these agreements do not require consideration of state parks or residents of impacted communities.
The Communities Before Air Tourism Act closes the gap by requiring the FAA and NPS to include affected communities in the decision-making process. It would also force agencies to account for noise, safety, and quality-of-life impacts on neighborhoods under the route.
Representative Robert Menendez, NJ-08, who sponsored the legislation, also pointed to safety as a key reason for introducing it. In April, a helicopter on a sightseeing tour crashed into the Hudson River, killing the pilot and a family of five.
“For years, New Yorkers have endured tens of thousands of non-essential helicopter flights that flood our neighborhoods with unbearable noise and worsening air quality,” said Representative Dan Goldman, NY-10, another major supporter of the bill. “After the tragic helicopter crash last April, it is long past time for the FAA to give our communities a real voice in choosing the routes that these tours fly. I am proud to join Congressman Menendez in reintroducing this bill because profits should never come before the health, safety, and wellness of New Yorkers.”
The bill seeks to significantly reduce the number of helicopters flying over New York City, the Hudson River, and the Statue of Liberty. A second introduced bill, the Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2025, would go even further and prohibit all non-essential helicopters within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty.
“Residents in our community shouldn’t have to endure the relentless disruption of helicopter air tours, especially around cherished spaces like Liberty State Park, where noise and safety risks continue to plague our region,” said Menendez. “This legislation puts our communities first by ensuring their voices are heard. We must restore the peace and safety our families deserve.”
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