The NBAA has issued a call to action urging members of New York’s business aviation community to write Gov. Kathy Hochul and urge her not to sign Senate Bill S7493A, which would allow anyone to sue a pilot, flight department, line service personnel or company employee operating in the state for alleged helicopter noise pollution, even if the operation complied with federal law and regulations.
The Bill which is known as the “Stop the Chop” act, the bill passed the NY state assembly in June must be enacted by Gov Hochul before it becomes State Law. In a letter sent to Gov. Hochul signed by NBAA and other groups, the stakeholders say the bill runs afoul of federal law. Also signing on to the letter were the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Eastern Region Helicopter Council, Helicopter Association International, New York Aviation Management Association and the National Air Transportation Association.
In addition the the groups argue that the wording of the Bill is so broad that it essentially creates a litigators bonanza. There are a lot of unknowns in this legislation, and it is so vaguely worded that there many avenues in which litigation could be taken,” said Brittany Davies, NBAA Northeast regional director. “In New York, the general aviation industry is responsible for 43,200 jobs and more than $8.6 billion in total economic output,” reads NBAA’s call to action. “The governor must hear from the general aviation community that this legislation will be detrimental to business aviation across the state.”
