Senate Joint Resolution No. 7

Introduced by Senator Lieu

March 13, 2013

Senate Joint Resolution No. 7—Relative to the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SJR 7, as introduced, Lieu. Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013.

This measure would urge the Congress to enact and the President to sign the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Residents across the County of Los Angeles suffer
intrusive and disruptive low-flying helicopter traffic above their
neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, The County of Los Angeles is home to a unique
and very large concentration of scenic, historic, entertainment, and
transportation venues, including movie studios, movie stars’ homes,
outdoor entertainment facilities, the coastline, Griffith Park, the
Hollywood sign, and many others, that generate extensive
helicopter tours engaged in sightseeing activity; and

WHEREAS, The County of Los Angeles has a high
concentration of media helicopters engaged in monitoring traffic
conditions, following car chases, and filming celebrity events,
which often involve hovering for extended periods of time; and

WHEREAS, The County of Los Angeles is home to the world’s
leading civil helicopter manufacturer, which conducts extensive
helicopter flight testing in the region; and

WHEREAS, The unique terrain of canyons and valleys in the
County of Los Angeles often amplifies noise from helicopters in
otherwise quiet residential areas; and

WHEREAS, Helicopter noise in the County of Los Angeles
interrupts daily life for many residents by interfering with the
ability to hear conversations, the television, the radio, or the
telephone, and disrupting sleep cycles; and

WHEREAS, Despite multiple efforts from several community
and homeowner organizations in the County of Los Angeles to
address these disturbances, helicopter traffic in the County of Los
Angeles is not currently regulated by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) or any other agency; and

WHEREAS, The FAA requires a specific minimum flying
altitude for fixed-wing aircraft, but it does not require a specific
minimum flying altitude for helicopters; and

WHEREAS, The absence of effective regulations for commercial
helicopter operations in the County of Los Angeles negatively
impacts the safety and quality of life of the county’s residents; and

WHEREAS, The State of California is preempted by federal
law from adopting altitude, flight path, and other necessary
regulations to mitigate the impacts of commercial helicopters; and

WHEREAS, There is a lack of clarity as to the rulemaking
authority of the FAA; and

WHEREAS, Two companion measures in Congress, Senate Bill
No. 208 and House of Representatives Bill No. 456, known as the
Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013,
would require the Administrator of the FAA to prescribe
regulations for helicopter operations in the County of Los Angeles
that are needed to address residents’ concerns over safety, noise,
and other associated impacts; and

WHEREAS, The following local government entities in the
County of Los Angeles have recently voted to support the proposed
federal legislation or its predecessor, the Los Angeles Residential
Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2012: the County of Los Angeles,
the City of Los Angeles, the City of Hermosa Beach, the City of
Lomita, the City of Palos Verdes Estates, the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes, the City of Redondo Beach, the City of Rolling Hills
Estates, and the City of West Hollywood; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature supports the Los Angeles
Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2013 (S. 208 and H.R.
456) and respectfully memorializes the Congress of the United
States to promptly pass and President Barack Obama to sign that
legislation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative
from California in the Congress of the United States.