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Residents of some leafy New York City suburbs say their peace and quiet is being shattered by helicopters ferrying even wealthier travelers out to the Hamptons, according to new reporting.
Homeowners along Westchester County’s Sound Shore have complained about low-flying helicopters passing over communities including Larchmont and Mamaroneck, especially during the warmer months as the ultra-rich flock to the popular eastern Long Island getaway, The Wall Street Journal recently reported.
“I have to put the closed captions on so I can see what’s happening on the screen,” Larchmont resident Jay Davis, a realtor and attorney, told the Journal about helicopters interrupting television and conversations at his home.
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“I don’t want to continue to live like this,” he said.
Longtime resident Nancy Monzidelis told the outlet the aircraft can sound startlingly close.
Helicopter traffic to the Hamptons is drawing noise complaints from some Westchester County residents, according to new reporting. (Tana Lee Alves/WireImage for Niche Media, LLC)
“One time I thought I had a helicopter in my driveway,” she said. “It’s not as peaceful as it was before.”
The dispute has created a clash between the ultra-wealthy and the not-quite-as-wealthy, the Journal noted.
Larchmont and Mamaroneck homes can command seven-figure prices, according to real estate sales data.
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Celebrities including Joan Rivers, Matt Dillon and Lou Gehrig have all had ties to the two towns.
The complaints highlight a growing tension surrounding one of the fastest and priciest ways to reach the Hamptons.
Helicopters heading toward the Hamptons can pass over some communiites very frequently during peak periods. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg)
Private helicopter services can whisk passengers between Manhattan and the Hamptons in as little as 35 minutes, compared to three hours or more by car.
Some operators advertise seats starting at $795 each way, while private charters can start at more than $4,700 and unlimited summer passes can go for $25,000, according to their websites.
Some residents told the Journal the helicopter traffic has been especially noticeable on summer Fridays and Sundays, as travelers head east for the weekend and then return to the city.
Long Island’s East Hampton has grappled with aircraft noise complaints and efforts to restrict noisy flights for years. (Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Beach Magazine)
Patrick Bucquet, a Mamaroneck resident, told the outlet that helicopters can pass overhead as frequently as every 15 minutes during busy periods.
“Maybe some people are doing very well, so they can afford a helicopter. Good for them,” he said.
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“Of course they can travel to the Hamptons,” he added. “But maybe they can take another route.”
The issue is not limited to Westchester County.
Helicopters offer wealthy travelers a way to bypass hours of traffic between Manhattan and the Hamptons. (iStock)
Aircraft noise has been a long-running source of controversy on the East End itself, according to local reports and court documents.
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Data presented to the East Hampton Town Board earlier this year showed that helicopters continue to generate a disproportionate share of airport noise complaints.
Helicopter traffic to and from the Hamptons tends to become especially noticeable during busy summer weekends, residents say. (Johnny Milano/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The town has spent years wrestling with how to reduce aircraft noise, with past efforts to impose curfews and restrictions becoming tied up in court.
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Eli Flint, president of Flexjet’s helicopter division, told the Journal that air traffic controllers have directed helicopters to create more separation from commercial aircraft in the crowded New York airspace, contributing to flights at lower altitudes.
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“We know it’s an issue,” Flint told the outlet, adding that manufacturers are working on equipment designed to reduce noise.
The Hamptons have long been a popular summer destination for wealthy New Yorkers. (iStock)
But not everyone in Westchester is bothered by the traffic.
“If somebody has the means to go to the Hamptons in a helicopter, God bless them,” one longtime resident told the Journal.
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“You should just thank God you can hear them.”