Bill Overview
Title: Helicopter Safety and Noise Management Act
Description: This bill establishes a commission comprised of the Federal Aviation Administration, members of local and state government, and helicopter noise and safety advocates to develop a helicopter usage management plan to substantially reduce the number of nonessential civil rotorcraft (i.e., a helicopter) that can operate in certain airspace at any given time. The plan shall not apply any limitation or requirement to the operation of a civil rotorcraft for purposes of public health and safety, including (1) law enforcement, (2) emergency response, (3) disaster response, (4) medical services, (5) scientific research, and (6) official purposes by a news organization.
Sponsors: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by helicopter noise and operations
Estimated Size: 3000000
- The bill will directly affect helicopter operators, especially those involved in nonessential civil rotorcraft activities, such as tours and certain private and commercial operations.
- Residents and communities in areas with heavy helicopter traffic will be affected due to changes in noise pollution levels.
- Industries related to tourism and private helicopter services might face operational changes or restrictions, affecting businesses and employees.
- The bill specifies exclusions, suggesting minimal impact on helicopters used for public health, safety, and scientific purposes.
Reasoning
- The primary population affected will be those within major urban centers where helicopter traffic is frequent, such as New York City and Los Angeles. This will include residents affected by the noise, businesses reliant on helicopter services, and those working in the helicopter tourism industry.
- The budget constraints imply that the initial scope of the policy implementation might be limited, the commission may focus on high-impact areas first.
- Considering the target estimate of 3,000,000 affected individuals, we chose to include a mix of urban residents, helicopter-related workers, and those in industries that might experience indirect effects. We also included individuals who are not directly affected to demonstrate variance in impact.
- With a $2,000,000 budget in year one, the policy might focus on administrative setup and initiating pilot management programs, mainly affecting a fraction of the most-impacted, noise-heavy areas.
- Over a 10-year outlook, the policy will expand its management capabilities, hence the inclusion of more resident-focused interviews for long-term assessments of wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Tour Helicopter Pilot (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new regulations are concerning for my job as they might reduce the number of flights we can operate. This is my livelihood, so I can only hope the plan considers people like us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
Community Organizer (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support this policy because it will help reduce the noise pollution in my neighborhood, improving our quality of life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Lawyer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I don't like the noise, I occasionally rely on helicopter services for quick travel during business trips. I fear this might make travel less convenient and more time-consuming.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Helicopter noise isn't really an issue for me. I rarely notice any disturbance, so I don't think this policy will make much difference to my life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Helicopter Tour Operator (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could devastate my business. Limiting nonessential flights will surely cut down our operations, possibly leading to job cuts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Helicopters aren't really an issue here. It's already quiet, and I don't expect much change to my way of life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Air Traffic Controller (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might improve coordination and safety. While it may slow down some traffic, the health and safety aspect is more critical.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
News Helicopter Pilot (Dallas, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Since news helicopters are exempt, my job shouldn't be affected directly. However, coordination with restricted flights might see some changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Environmental Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing nonessential flights could benefit environmental studies and enhance public welfare by reducing noise pollution. I support this policy for those reasons.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Helicopter Mechanic (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 43 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fewer flights might mean less maintenance work, but the impact isn't direct and will depend on how companies adjust. It's a mixed bag for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 2: $2200000 (Low: $1700000, High: $2700000)
Year 3: $2300000 (Low: $1800000, High: $2800000)
Year 5: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Balancing helicopter usage restrictions with the need for economic activities and tourism.
- Potential resistance from stakeholders in the affected helicopter services sector.
- The importance of noise reduction in improving quality of life for urban residents.