Norton to Question GAO Witness on Progress Implementing Recommendations from Helicopter Noise Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will use today's Aviation Subcommittee hearing to question Derrick Collins, Physical Infrastructure Director of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), about the progress made by the Department of Defense (DoD) in implementing GAO recommendations that came out of the helicopter noise study that Norton got enacted in the 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization law. Press and the public can live stream the hearing, which is expected to begin at 10:15 a.m.

The report examined FAA data on helicopter flights in the region from 2020-2024, a five-year period, and found that the largest percentage of flights, 35%, were military. It found that "military operators have not engaged in continuous awareness and outreach programs to communities affected by helicopter noise, as required by DOD's Operational Noise Program." GAO recommended that the Army, Air Force, Navy & Marine Corps, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) develop and implement a plan to engage in ongoing and continuous community awareness and outreach programs to communities affected by their helicopter noise in the D.C. area. Additionally, GAO recommended that the outreach include information about military helicopter flights and efforts to reduce noise from their flights in the region.

"I've worked for years to combat aviation noise in D.C., which my constituents frequently contact my office about. The noise can be damaging to health and quality of life, and helicopters can even harm the structural integrity of homes.

"The 2024 Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization law included my provision requiring GAO to conduct a study of helicopter noise in the National Capital Region. The study, which was published in March of this year, recommended that the Army, Navy, Air Force and the DHS develop and implement awareness and outreach programs for communities affected by helicopter noise in the region. Today I'll follow up on this work and press Director Collins to share details on what progress, if any, has been made to implement GAO's recommendations."

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