Reaction Mixed to Copter Regulation

A proposal to increase regulation of helicopter operations in Los Angeles airspace drew mixed reviews at a meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the Los Angeles City Council this week.

Community activists from the San Fernando Valley and Westside on Monday argued in favor of altitude minimums for copter flights to reduce noise and to make residents living below the flight paths safer.

That rule would not apply to helicopters involved in emergency operations.

But helicopter pilots contended that altitude minimums would actually make the skies more dangerous because such regulations would force copters into the airspace used by airplanes.

Gerald A. Silver, president of the Homeowners of Encino, explained his organization’s proposal to the Federal Aviation Administration that the agency impose a 1,000-foot altitude minimum for helicopters flying over populated areas.

“We are drawing a distinction between necessary operations” and unnecessary flights, Silver said. “Our bone to pick is with the nuisance helicopters and overkill from the media.”

However, representatives from the Los Angeles police and Fire Department said they are opposed to the altitude minimum because it could put helicopters in the path of airplanes, said Eric Rose, an aide to City Councilwoman Laura Chick.

Chick observed that there is a Los Angeles Basin Helicopter and Community Compatibility Board to which citizens can bring their noise complaints, but she said that the board did not seem to have the power to effect real changes.

“We don’t have any problem-solving ability in place,” she said after the meeting.

Chick said the city should address the problems of helicopter safety and noise, and suggested that one way might be to restrict sightseeing flights.