Advocates Press Mayor Mamdani to Curb Helicopter Traffic

As noise complaints regarding helicopter traffic continue to climb, community advocates and local officials are looking to Mayor Zohran Mamdani to fulfill campaign pledges aimed at curbing nonessential air travel. With over 17,000 311 complaints filed in the 12 months leading up to June, residents in waterfront neighborhoods describe the constant overhead activity as a significant quality-of-life disruption.

During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani expressed opposition to nonessential helicopter flights, a stance that has emboldened critics who view the industry as a service for the wealthy at the expense of the general public. Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who represents parts of Brooklyn, argued that city policy should not prioritize the interests of the elite. Restler and other lawmakers have specifically urged the administration to prevent spikes in commercial traffic during major events, such as the recent World Cup.

At the center of the debate are two city-owned heliports located at Pier 6 and the East Side. Proposed City Council legislation seeks to restrict operations at these sites to public safety, medical, and news-gathering purposes. Andrew Rosenthal, president of the advocacy group Stop the Chop, expressed frustration over the lack of progress, noting that a meeting requested by Councilmember Gale Brewer in January to discuss these concerns has yet to be granted by the mayor’s office.

While the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) maintains that reducing noise is a priority, the agency has previously highlighted the $78 million in economic benefits generated by the heliports. An EDC spokesperson indicated that the city is looking toward future investments in quiet, zero-emission aircraft, though such technology has not yet received full federal approval for passenger use. Under new leadership appointed by Mamdani—including Anthony Shorris and Lina Khan—the agency faces renewed pressure to address the issue.

Policy experts and officials acknowledge, however, that local authority has limits. Much of the helicopter traffic, particularly sightseeing tours, originates from New Jersey, placing those flights outside the jurisdiction of New York City regulators. Councilmember Brewer, who has tracked the issue for over two decades, noted that while previous administrations implemented caps on tourist flights, the persistent volume of traffic remains a challenge for residents living along established flight paths.