World Trade Center records folder, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

EASTERN REGION HELICOPTER COUNCIL urn.

OCT 1 0 2001 G I1

enul I I. Deputy Mayer for C De"glcpmenl d',J Fr October 5, 2001

The Honorable Robert M. Harding Deputy Mayor - Economic Development & Finance City of New York City Hall New York, New York 10007

REF: FAA Airspace Restrictions N.Y.C. Heliports

Dear Deputy Mayor Harding,

On behalf of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council, I would like to applaud your efforts, along with those of the Mayor, Governor and other City Administration staff, for the leadership and inspiration you have provided during this dark period. I would also like to express our sincere sympathies to the families that lost loved ones, and acknowledge the heroic efforts and sacrifices of the New York Police, Fire and EMS services.

Normally under such circumstances I would not intrude on your valuable time, however we need your assistance, and that of the Mayor as you deem appropriate. I have taken the liberty of attaching correspondence I submitted to Mr. Steven Brown, FAA Deputy Administrator for Air Traffic Services. The letter provides an overview of the dire situation being faced by the New York helicopter industry, New York City heliports, and the New York business community which they serve.

Our ability, and that of the business community to return to normal, as requested by the President, Governor and Mayor, has been prohibited. This is due to airspace restrictions put in place by the FAA at the direction of the National Security Agencies, immediately following the tragic events of September 11th. These restrictions eliminate our access to the New York City heliports. Initially the heliports served the needs of the rescue and relief aircraft as well as law enforcement. During this initial period we understood the need for limiting access to the heliports and restrictions on certain flight activity. However as time has passed, and the rescue effort has transitioned to a recovery effort, the relief and security aircraft related to this event, have left the area, and now the ramps at the New York City heliports remain open, but empty.

Accordingly we petitioned the FAA to permit us access to the heliports, and provided a plan to do so, in the attached document. The FAA has concurred with our proposal and is just as anxious to reestablish our operations. However the National Security Agencies have not focused on this situation so as to provide us relief.

30 Valley Lane, Chappaqua, N.Y. 10514 914-845-353-6050 [email protected]

NYC-WTC 000136532