Helicopter noise sparks complaints as Town of Riverhead forms task force
The noticeable increase in helicopter traffic has prompted some residents to bring their concerns before the Riverhead Town Board.
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The steady buzz of planes and helicopters flying overhead from the North Fork to the Hamptons is becoming an all-too-familiar disturbance for some residents in Wading River.
Jimmy O’Keefe, of Wading River, said the noise has become difficult to ignore.
“I hear loud helicopters while I’m sitting in my backyard, and it’s quite annoying and disturbing. They fly pretty low, and the sound is pretty bad,” O’Keefe said.
The noticeable increase in helicopter traffic has prompted some residents to bring their concerns before the Riverhead Town Board.
At a recent town board meeting, Wading River resident Patricia Berry described the situation as intolerable.
“It’s just been unbearable,” Berry said.
As News 12 has previously reported, helicopters flying over Long Island’s North Shore are required to follow a designated flight route that was established more than a decade ago to help reduce noise impacts on local communities.
However, residents say pilots are not consistently adhering to that route.
“Pilots are routinely ignoring the FAA’s mandatory New York North Shore Helicopter Route instead of following the mandate,” Berry told board members.
Riverhead Town Councilwoman Denise Merrifield said she shares residents’ concerns.
“I am very concerned about the helicopters flying very low over Wading River and causing unacceptable damage to our residents’ quality of life with the tremendous noise they create,” Merrifield said.
Ridge resident Sandy Richard said the problem appears to be getting worse.
“It’s pretty annoying,” Richard said. “They’re louder than they used to be. I don’t know why.”
In response to growing community complaints, the Town of Riverhead is forming a helicopter noise task force to address the issue.
“I certainly would appreciate it if they would do something to stop it,” O’Keefe said.
The Riverhead Town Helicopter Noise Task Force will hold its first meeting Thursday at 4 p.m. at Riverhead Town Hall. Town officials say all residents are welcome to attend.
