STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS J. SACCO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Senator BRIAN P. STACK
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Reduces helicopter operations at certain aviation facilities licensed by State.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning certain helicopter operations in New Jersey and supplementing Title 6 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
"Airport" means a designated area of land, water, or both, which is licensed by the Department of Transportation for the landing and takeoff of airplanes and other aircraft, and which may provide facilities for shelter, security, and service of aircraft.
"Emergency medical transportation" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 1 of P.L.1986, c.106 (C.26:2K-35).
"Helicopter" means a rotary wing aircraft that depends principally upon the lift generated by engine-driven rotors rotating on a substantially vertical axis for its primary means of propulsion.
"Heliport" means a dedicated area of defined dimensions, either at ground level or elevated on a structure, designated for the landing or takeoff of helicopters and used solely for that purpose.
"Helistop" means an area of defined dimensions, either at ground level or elevated on a structure designated for the landing or take off of helicopters, but not limited in use to that sole purpose.
2. The Commissioner of Transportation shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations to reduce the noise generated by helicopters at airports, heliports, and helistops licensed by the State. These rules and regulations shall include, but need not be limited to, requirements that the proprietor of an airport, heliport, or helistop reduce the number of helicopters leaving the airport, heliport, or helistop by not less than 47 percent per weekday compared to the average number of helicopter flights per weekday leaving from the airport, heliport, or helistop for the 12 months preceding the date of enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). Flights by helicopters owned or operated by a federal or military authority or the State government and helicopters providing emergency medical transportation shall not be included in the required reduction in helicopter flights.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to promulgate rules and regulations to reduce the noise generated by helicopters at airports, helipads, and heliports licensed by the State. These rules and regulations are to include requirements that the proprietor of an airport, helipad, or helistop reduce the number of helicopters leaving the airport, helipad, or helistop by not less than 47 percent per weekday compared to the average number of helicopter flights per weekday leaving from the airport, heliport, or helistop for the 12 months preceding the date of enactment of the bill. Flights by helicopters owned or operated by a federal or military authority or the State government and helicopters providing emergency medical transportation are not included in the required reduction in flights.