New Jersey Governor Urges Federal Limits on Nonessential Helicopter Flights

(New Jersey) New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is pressing federal regulators to clamp down on nonessential helicopter flights across the state after an April 10, 2025 sightseeing crash near Jersey City killed six people and reignited long-running complaints about noise and safety over dense neighborhoods.

In an August 18 letter, Murphy urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to “prohibit or sharply reduce” tourist and other discretionary flights departing New Jersey—especially those using the Kearny heliport—and to push routes over water rather than over homes in Jersey City and Hoboken. The FAA has acknowledged the request and said it would respond directly to the governor, noting that while helicopters are not bound by the same minimum-altitude rules as airplanes, they still must avoid creating hazards for people or property on the ground.

Related New York City actions

New York City is simultaneously moving on its own measures. On April 24, the City Council passed the Helicopter Oversight Act (Int. 26-A, Law 2025/064), which will gradually shut city-owned heliports to helicopters that do not meet the strictest federal noise standards (Stage 3) starting in 2029.

The package also includes:
– Resolutions calling on the FAA to ban nonessential helicopters over the city
– Urgings for state lawmakers to consider noise taxes and other limits

Council leaders Keith Powers and Amanda Farias said the measures are needed given safety risks, noise, and emissions. Powers cited April’s Hudson crash and an earlier 2018 East River crash that killed five, arguing the pattern is unacceptable.

Murphy’s federal request: specifics

Murphy’s request aims to align New Jersey operations with the city’s tougher stance. His letter asks the FAA to:

• Limit nonessential flight hours to 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Route traffic over Newark Bay and other water corridors whenever possible
• Adopt strong measures modeled on a 2023 FAA cap on tourist flights over Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, pairing federal action with city and state steps could shift the regional tourism market—sending operators toward stricter aircraft, fewer flights, and higher operating costs.

Industry response and perspectives

As of late August, the helicopter industry had not issued formal statements. Trade groups often argue that safety can be improved through maintenance, training, and oversight, and that sightseeing and commuter helicopters support jobs and visitor spending. Vertical Aviation International called the New York City Council’s approach “one of the most extreme political assaults” on rotorcraft services in the area.

The April 10 crash and investigation status

The April 10 accident involved a Bell 206 LongRanger IV operated by New York Helicopter. It took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, flew roughly 16 minutes, and then broke apart over the Hudson—killing the pilot and a visiting family of five from Barcelona. The wreckage came down near Jersey City.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released preliminary findings in May that included images showing the fuselage separated from the tail boom and reports of loud bangs before the midair breakup. Investigators are still working through the cause, with mechanical failure suspected, and have not issued a final report.

Since 2005, five commercial sightseeing helicopters have crashed in New York City waters, claiming 20 lives.

Regional pressure and community complaints

Murphy’s effort folds New Jersey into a regional push that includes legal and political pressure from New York officials and members of Congress who say helicopter noise and safety risks don’t stop at the state line.

• Staten Island Congresswoman Nicole Maliotakis has pressed for limits on flights leaving New Jersey and passing above New York City residential areas.
• Community groups on both banks of the Hudson have cataloged thousands of complaints.
• In 2023 alone, New Yorkers filed more than 59,000 helicopter noise complaints, city data show.

For families in Jersey City and Hoboken, weekend afternoons often bring back-to-back tour loops, hovering camera runs, and low passes that rattle windows and disrupt parks along the waterfront.

Murphy’s letter seeks to turn those daily frustrations into clear rules while protecting essential operations.

What Murphy is asking the FAA to do

Murphy asks the FAA to:
– Cut back “nonessential” operations—tourist sightseeing, discretionary charters, and luxury commuter hops
– Protect essential flights such as police, emergency medical transport, news gathering, and permitted film work
– Encourage or require aircraft that meet modern noise standards
– Release updated guidance steering pilots away from low passes over homes and schools

The FAA often prefers collaborative fixes, but a federal decision would send a stronger signal across the United States that busy urban corridors need tighter limits.

New Jersey legislative efforts

New Jersey lawmakers are exploring state-level steps. Bills in Trenton would give airports and helipads more tools to curb noise and set operating rules. As of late August, no statute directly restricting nonessential flights has passed.

Policy staff say they’re waiting to see the FAA’s response to Murphy, as national rules would bring faster and clearer results than a patchwork of local restrictions that can be hard to enforce once aircraft lift off.

Timelines, implementation, and FAA process

The New York City law’s full effect is phased in before 2029, giving operators time to plan fleet upgrades or adjust routes. However, the political and regulatory process is faster in the near term:

• Public hearings, environmental reviews, and airspace meetings are expected to stretch into 2026
• The FAA may convene operators, air traffic officials, and local authorities to test route changes and time bands
• If adopted, steps would likely be phased in with Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) and updates to helicopter route charts

The FAA cautions that helicopters have unique operational needs; forced higher altitudes and hard turns can introduce new risks. Still, the agency has used targeted limits in sensitive areas before, including the Hawai‘i precedent Murphy cites.

For pilots and the public tracking guidance, see the Federal Aviation Administration rotorcraft resources:
– https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/general_aviation/rotorcraft

Potential market and community impacts

If federal or local limits are adopted, the tourism and commuter markets could shift:

• Sightseeing companies may:
  • Trim quick out-and-back trips
  • Bundle fewer flights per hour
  • Raise tour prices to cover compliance costs
• Wealthy commuters may face fewer departure slots
• Some operators might pivot to essential services (aerial filming, mapping), invest in quieter models, or test electric vertical aircraft if they meet noise and safety requirements

Residents near heliports—from Kearny to Paulus Hook—could get faster relief if the FAA endorses water routes and shorter operating days. Communities along the Hudson Greenway might notice fewer chopper beats over lawns and playgrounds. Local officials say even small reductions in flight density can significantly reduce the constant thrum now stretching from morning into dusk on clear weekends.

Effects on stakeholders

For tour operators:
– Risks: fewer hours, capped loops, stricter aircraft rules, squeezed margins
– Opportunities: companies that upgrade fleets and retrain pilots likely fare better
– Costs: possible higher insurance during transition

For residents:
– Relief from noise and disrupted sleep, especially for families and older residents
– Requests from community boards for better reporting (public dashboards tracking flights and noise by time and neighborhood)

For workers in the sector (pilots, mechanics, ground crews):
– Short-term uncertainty about livelihoods
– Safety experts argue fewer, better-managed flights reduce risk for crews and passengers
– Emphasis on training and maintenance: rigorous checks, proficiency tests, strict weight-and-balance procedures

Investigation and legal follow-up

The NTSB investigation continues. Families of the victims want clear answers about the mechanical sequence that caused the midair breakup and whether an inspection or part replacement could have changed the outcome. Lawyers and insurers are watching; a final NTSB report could drive new inspection mandates or service bulletins affecting similar models.

Timing and political considerations

With New York City’s 2029 noise standard deadline and Murphy’s federal request on the FAA’s desk, operators face decisions in the next budget cycle. Communities in New Jersey, especially around Jersey City, are seeking early wins—simple route shifts and hour limits that could provide a quieter fall and winter.

Politically, the issue crosses party lines: public safety and quality of life have broad appeal. But there’s a caution: poorly designed limits can concentrate flights into tighter corridors or force altitude and maneuver changes that increase risk. That is why New Jersey’s request to route nonessential flights over Newark Bay matters: water routes offer more forced-landing options and place distance between aircraft and crowds.

The hinge: FAA’s pending decision

The FAA’s response will determine the near-term shape of helicopter operations over New Jersey. Possible outcomes:
1. FAA adopts strict limits — likely faster improvements to the soundscape for Hudson County residents
2. FAA encourages voluntary measures and convenes stakeholders — potential gradual changes and pilot programs
3. FAA defers to local action or waits for more data — skies may remain busy into spring/summer 2026

If the agency leans in, residents could see quieter skies sooner. If it waits, the region may experience another season of heavy helicopter activity while families, community groups, pilots, and regulators all await clearer rules.