Letter: Choppers are too noisy
AS350 Squirrel helicopter, to be supplied with a Pall Corp. filter. Credit: Handout
Your article, "A quiet fly zone" [News, Feb. 1], indicates that issues with over-water helicopter routes are being addressed. However, the minimum altitude requirement of 2,500 feet offshore does not address the low-flying, disruptive, noisy and home-rattling helicopters flying along the Long Island Rail Road main line corridor from Bellerose to Hicksville.
There are special considerations needed for this helicopter route, because it intersects with Kennedy Airport's jet aircraft runway routes 22L and 22R.
When these runways are active, helicopters using the LIRR corridor drop down below 800 feet. Homes and contents in our homes literally shake like an earthquake is occurring, due to the downward force of helicopter propeller blades. When the Kennedy glide paths are not active, most helicopter pilots courteously fly above 1,200 feet, causing almost no degradation to residents' quality of life.
The solution is for helicopters not to use the LIRR corridor when JFK's 22L and 22R runways are active.
Edward W. Powers, New Hyde Park
