Norton to Host Community Meeting on Reducing Helicopter Noise with Agencies that Fly in D.C., May 30

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, will host a community meeting on reducing helicopter noise with District of Columbia residents and representatives of local and federal agencies that operate helicopters in D.C. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 6:00 p.m., at the West End Library (2301 L St. NW). Officials from the Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Park Police and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will participate. Norton has also invited the Metropolitan Police Department to participate.

In November, Norton hosted a Quiet Skies briefing with FAA and DoD officials about helicopter flight paths in the District, and, based on the information presented there, she decided that this community meeting was necessary.

"Noise from police and military helicopters continues to plague neighborhoods across the District," Norton said. "Our residents want to know what can be done to reduce helicopter noise. Our meeting is necessary to give them the opportunity to lay out their concerns directly to local and federal officials, who should have at least some of the answers. We need feedback to help in delivering relief to neighbors who continue to suffer increased helicopter noise."

This week, Norton has cosponsored two amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 focused on reducing helicopter noise: 1) requiring DoD to submit a report to Congress on the frequency of helicopters used for executive travel in the National Capital Region, and 2) requiring DoD to work to mitigate helicopter noise in the National Capital Region by establishing: (i) noise inquiry website to track and analyze complaints; and (ii) a monthly helicopter noise abatement working group. Norton also cosponsored several amendments to the recent House-passed FAA reauthorization bill to reduce and address helicopter noise in the national capital region.