The Federal Aviation Administration has revised air traffic procedures for the New York metropolitan area to reduce aircraft noise for communities, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced Monday.
The new procedure will directly improve the quality of life for areas in the flight plan of John F. Kennedy Airport like Roslyn, East Hills, East Williston and New Hyde Park, as well as Huntington Station, Huntington, East Norwich and Old Brookville, according to Suozzi’s office.
Under the new procedures that the congressman and senator pressed for, all aircraft flying into JFK must maintain the highest operational altitude as long as possible when conditions, traffic volume and workload permit.
In order to properly execute the new procedure, all aircraft landing at JFK must remain at or above 3,000 feet until they are within 15 miles of JFK, decreasing noise in nearby areas.
“For years, aircraft noise has been crushing our neighborhoods across Nassau County. Many of the folks who have experienced some of the worst noise don’t even live particularly close to the airports,” Suozzi said. “Today’s announcement brings a welcome respite to the people of Long Island who have been forced to endure unnecessary airplane noise disrupting their lives.”
“Today’s actions by the FAA mark a huge sigh of relief for thousands of Long Islanders living underneath JFK’s flight path,” Schumer said. “After delivering thousands of complaints for low flying and noisy planes overhead, the FAA has finally heeded our call and the cries of neighbors by agreeing to implement this new plan to ameliorate the headache-inducing low-flying planes. Congressman Suozzi and I will continue to monitor noise levels and assess this most recent plan’s progress alongside the community and other stakeholders.”
As vice chair of the Congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, Suozzi has repeatedly called on the FAA to take steps to reduce aircraft and helicopter noise across the region.
The North Hempstead Town Board voted in October 2019 to approve a resolution to pursue legal action against the FAA, which Upper Brookville and East Hills joined, and Suozzi has criticized the FAA in the past for being “noncommital.”
East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz, who has been vocal about the air traffic and noise his village has faced, said in an email to residents that he received a call from Suozzi about the new procedures on Monday morning.
“The new procedures are a start, and we certainly hope the measures provide relief,” Koblenz said.
