The lobbying association for the French helicopter industry, the Union Française de l’Hélicoptère (UFH), is raising concerns about gestating noise rules that could practically ban commercial flights from urban areas. The association fears legislators are writing such a rule with input only from heli- port neighbors, some of whom are members of anti-helicopter associations. Meanwhile, German aerospace research center DLR claims to have found simple ways to reduce noise by optimizing flight procedures.
The UFH has sent a letter to the French minister of the environment and transport warning that excessively restrictive rules might force operators out of densely populated areas. The new regulation could cap helicopter movements, setting limits for hours of operation on given days, months, seasons and years. The legislation does not include EMS, rescue, state and emergency preparedness flights.
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