Braunstein, Avella Call on Cuomo to Sign Airplane Noise Bill

State Assemblyman Edward Braunstein, D-Bayside, and state Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, praised the state Legislature’s passing a bill requiring the Port Authority to study the effects of aircraft noise on local communities.

The legislators joined Assemblyman Ed Ra, R-Franklin Square, and Sens. Jack Martins, R-Garden City Park, and Kemp Hannon, R-Garden City, in New Hyde Park Wednesday to discuss what the legislation could mean for northeast Queens, where residents have been complaining for more than a year about increased – and constant - airplane noise.

“Last year, the [Federal Aviation Administration] instituted a new flight pattern that created a constant barrage of airplane noise in northeast Queens,” Braunstein said. “The agency made these changes without any public input or environmental impact studies.”

Braunstein said he was calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign the recently passed bill, which would require the Port Authority to conduct noise surveys and hold public hearings about the negative impact increased air traffic has on communities in the five boroughs and Long Island.

“The three airports operated by the Port Authority collectively represent the busiest air post system in the United States,” Hannon said. “The noise generated by all these overflights has increased steadily over time and it’s incumbent on the PA to conduct a noise study to ensure that aircraft noise is given proper consideration by airport operators when they determine which runways and approach paths to use.”