To ensure that low-flying helicopters are following newly implemented Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, which now re-route the aircraft over water during trips out East instead of hovering over local communities like Floral Park, Senator Charles Schumer, who last December successfully brokered an agreement to establish these new routes and altitude floors, has now funded the creation of a 3-1-1 call center so fed up residents can report non-compliant aircraft.

During a press conference last summer, the senator noted that helicopter traffic to the Hamptons increases "exponentially each year." And with the warmer weather fast approaching, he notes that thousands of helicopters are set to fly from New York City to the East End in the coming months.

He, along with major Long Island helicopter companies and local elected leaders, including Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, unveiled summer 2008 efforts to "drive-away maddening low-flying helicopters from Nassau and Suffolk communities." Specifically, the action plan is aimed at ensuring all helicopters abide by the agreement - which officially went into effect May 8 - and those that don't are quickly reported, tracked and monitored through the new 3-1-1 helicopter complaint and monitoring network.

The agreement - between the FAA, major Long Island airports like East Hampton and Gabreski airports, and the helicopter companies represented by the Eastern Region Helicopter Council - includes new noise abatement routes to divert pre-existing North Shore traffic over water at a recommended altitude of at least 2,500 feet.

The new North Shore route will provide particular relief to the Great Neck and Port Washington peninsulas, according to Senator Schumer, diverting helicopters flying from heliports in New York City to Execution Rock Lighthouse before heading East over the Long Island Sound.

The agreement, which includes more than 90 percent of the helicopter operators now active on Long Island, came in the form of a signed letter from those helicopter operators and local airports to Schumer, who reports that since its signing, there has been a 15 and 20 percent increase in compliance with the new guidelines for routing and altitude, respectively.

"This is the summer we fight back against helicopter noise on Long Island," Senator Schumer states on his website. "For far too long, residents of Nassau and Suffolk have had to suffer in silence under the deafening roar of helicopters buzzing over their homes. For the first time, we have a concrete agreement to ensure helicopters stay away from our communities and a new clear-cut line of communication so rogue choppers are reported, tracked and brought back into line. This new call center and islandwide hotline will be a one-stop shop for all Long Island residents to make sure their complaints are heard and acted on."

As part of an agreement made between the Town of North Hempstead, Nassau County and the Eastern Region Helicopter Council, the senator said that the newly created call center is now accepting complaints for all Nassau County. Town of North Hempstead residents simply need to dial 3-1-1 from any phone to file a complaint. North Hempstead will then log all complaints for all of Nassau County and present the Eastern Region Helicopter Council with a weekly and monthly report, which will specifically analyze patterns and location frequency, Senator Schumer said. The Council, the senator added, then plans on using the data to arrange for operators to adjust accordingly when a particular area is adversely affected.

All other Floral Park residents, not living within the Town of North Hempstead's borders, should call 869-6311.

In Suffolk, residents can temporarily call (845)-353-6050 to report complaints; they can also call East Hampton Airport at (631)-537-1130 or Gabreski Airport at (631)-852-8095, where complaints will also be logged and tracked. The senator also noted that a new 1-800 number for all of Suffolk County will be released in the next several weeks and will be up and running before Memorial Day.

Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri, in this week's mayor's column, notes that he, along with Trustees Tom Tweedy and Mary-Grace Tomecki, the village's noise abatement officer, had the opportunity May 2 to meet with Senator Schumer's new Long Island regional representative, Gerry Petrella, to discuss, among other issues, the impact of low-flying helicopters over the village.

"For years helicopters have used the LIRR's Main Line as a guidepost to access the East End and Republic Airport, disrupting many a backyard summer barbecue and becoming, by most accounts, the most conspicuous pest in the Floral Park ecosystem," Mayor Guarnieri wrote.

"Helicopter flyers are living under the threat of being legislatively mandated to fly these routes, if they don't cooperate voluntarily. I am encouraging all residents to call 869-6311 (write down those numbers - it adds up to progress) the next time you are disturbed by a rogue, low-flying helicopter. Call Center operators will be looking for as much information as possible such as the day, date, time and description of the aircraft. If visible, you will also be asked to provide the registration number of the helicopter. The center is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays."

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman stated at the recent press briefing: "This is something that has been a long time coming. It's a testament to public service when different levels of government can come together to hammer out a resolution to an issue that has caused consternation among constituents."

In further news, the senator also reports that "great strides" have been made to improve the technology now in place to track and monitor helicopters that violate the agreement.

In fact, he notes, East Hampton Airport is the only airport to have a new system in place that allows for precision take-off and landing tracking. The senator has promised to push for federal funding to install a similar system at Gabreski Airport.

It is important to note that emergency and news helicopters are exempt from any rules and regulations in an emergency.