Residents of the Saint-Tropez gulf, on the French Riviera, are threatening to block helipads and the road through Saint-Tropez if the city does not make progress on addressing helicopter noise. Every summer, wealthy visitors to Saint-Tropez make extensive use of helicopters, either private or chartered, to bypass traffic jams on the busy roads. Residents contend that existing noise rules are not being enforced, while operators complain that local mayors have failed to deliver on promises to build proper helipads in agreed areas.
“The situation has improved slightly, with overflights taking place a bit higher, since we have started becoming more vocal,” Jean-Claude Molho, president of resident association Halte Hélico, told AIN. The association has installed noise measurement devices at “places where no low-altitude overflight should be seen.” It claims to have measured 70 decibels regularly.
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