Solutions to reduce noise in Manhattan and improve quality of life
Have you ever been in the middle of a crowded city, surrounded by skyscrapers, and suddenly you hear the noise of a helicopter flying over your head? For Manhattan residents, this is not just an accidental situation, but part of their daily lives. With the increase in helicopter traffic flying in and out of the airstrip in downtown Manhattan, noise has become a major challenge affecting quality of life. What are the causes of this noise and how can it be reduced? Are there practical solutions to improve the situation? In this blog, we will address the impact of the downtown Manhattan heliport on residents and the actions taken to reduce noise in the city.
Challenges and solutions
New York City, especially Manhattan, is exposed to high levels of noise caused by helicopter traffic, with noise levels ranging from 85 to 100 decibels, depending on the type of aircraft. While some aircraft are quieter thanks to modern technologies, the overall situation remains a concern.
Since the sixties, the airstrip in downtown Manhattan has undergone remarkable development. It began to be used for medical purposes and some commercial flights, and then expanded to include many other uses such as law enforcement, air transport, patrols, and tourist tours. As a result of this expansion, noise levels have increased, causing residents to file multiple complaints over the years.
The noise problem has become part of the daily life of Manhattan residents, with complaints having multiplied dramatically in recent years. It is believed that the number of complaints will increase even more in the future if you do not take effective measures to mitigate noise.
Implementing new procedures to reduce noise and its impact
As a result of increasing complaints from Manhattan residents about helicopter noise, authorities have taken important steps to reduce the severity of the problem. One of the most prominent measures was the announcement issued by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017, in which it was decided to reduce the number of tourist flights by 50%, or approximately 30,000 trips per year. This step marked the beginning of a stricter policy towards regulating helicopter traffic in the city.
The impact of “Stop the Chop” and new regulatory procedures
Thanks to the continuous efforts of the “Stop the Chop” organization, which called for noise reduction, the number of helicopter trips has been reduced by almost half, so that the interval time between each flight is four minutes instead of two minutes. New York City's helicopter sighting plan also included new restrictions on flying over Brooklyn communities, with a ban on all tourist air activities directly over residential areas.
No-fly times and additional procedures
To bring more calm to Manhattan residents, no-fly times have been set from sunset to almost sunrise. Flights are only allowed between 09:00am and 19:00pm from Monday to Saturday, with flights stopping early on Sunday. These measures contributed to significantly reducing noise levels, but did not solve the problem completely.
Comparing noise levels in Manhattan
Apart from planes, Manhattan faces other noise challenges that make it second only to Brooklyn in terms of the number of noise-related complaints. According to statistics, there are many sources of noise in the city, including:
- Emergency traffic (ambulances and police): 110 decibels
- Constructions (air hammer blows): 90-100 decibels
- Metro stations (underground train): 80-90 decibels
- People (crowds, pedestrians, shows): 75 - 90 decibels
- Traffic in the city center (cars and motorcycles): 70 - 85 decibels
- Restaurants and cafes: 70 - 80 decibels
- Animals and birds: 60-70 decibels
All these sources contribute to increased noise levels in Manhattan. The number of complaints related to noise from people (residential noise) has reached about 14% of the total complaints. This indicates that noise is a big part of the challenges faced by city residents, making it necessary to seek sustainable solutions to improve quality of life in this crowded urban environment.
The impact of noise on the lives of residents
Noise in Manhattan is not just a nuisance; it affects the mental and physical health of residents. With noise generated by people rated at 14% of total complaints, it becomes clear that residential noise is one of the most common problems faced by city residents. This makes it necessary to continue developing and implementing more effective solutions to reduce noise levels in the future.
eVTOL is a revolution in the quality of life in Manhattan
All sounds and their different levels have a significant impact on the urban environment, especially in densely populated areas like Manhattan. According to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), eVTOL aircraft represent a paradigm shift in noise reduction thanks to their modified technical specifications, known as VTOL-Capable Aircraft (VCA). VCA measures all levels of noise produced by eVTOL aircraft during different stages of flight, including stops near heliports.
EVTOL vs HELICOPTER: THE URBAN AIR MOVEMENT REVOLUTION AND ITS IMPACT ON NOISE LEVELS
In the context of comparing noise levels between eVTOL and traditional helicopters, NASA and Gobi conducted sound tests on Gobi's S4 aircraft. These tests were done in a field surrounded by 50 microphones for accurate measurement of noise levels. The results showed that the noise produced by the S4 aircraft ranged from 45.2 decibels during fixed flight to less than 65 decibels during takeoff and landing. These numbers are roughly equivalent to normal conversation levels and the sound of a vacuum cleaner.
By contrast, the International Helicopter Association (HIS) has shown that the lowest noise level of a conventional helicopter is around 85 decibels, which is well above the highest noise level of an eVTOL aircraft. These significant differences in noise levels affect not only societal acceptance of eVTOL technologies, but also the choice of urban transportation.
The shift towards urban air mobility (UAM)
With the significant improvement in noise levels, Manhattanites are expected to begin to shift towards using urban air transportation as an environmentally friendly and quieter alternative. Since 69% of noise complaints in Manhattan were caused by helicopters, adopting eVTOL could eliminate nearly two-thirds of these complaints, contributing to a significant improvement in quality of life.
The health and social impact of noise
In terms of health, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that noise caused by flying is linked to several health problems, including sleep disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive impairment. In the long term, reducing noise levels in Manhattan can improve quality of life, which can change neighborhood demography and increase the financial value of real estate.
The importance of education and community awareness
Finally, education and awareness raising about the benefits of urban air transport and the future integration of EVTOL aircraft is vital. By increasing public knowledge about the effects of noise and the importance of eVTOL technologies, greater support can be achieved for the technological transformations needed to improve the quality of life in Manhattan.
The transition to using eVTOL is not just a change in mode of transportation, but a step towards a quieter and more comfortable environment for residents of Manhattan and other communities that suffer from urban noise problems.
As Manhattan continues to face the challenges of excessive noise caused by helicopter traffic, it is clear that traditional solutions have not been sufficient to fully address the problem. However, with the advancement of technology and the adoption of innovative solutions such as eVTOL aircraft, new hope is on the horizon to improve the quality of life in the busiest city. These aircrafts, which provide a quieter travel experience and lower noise levels, could be a real transformation in how Manhattans deal with urban noise, contributing to a more comfortable and healthier residential environment.
If you are interested in the future and would like to learn more about how modern technology affects our quality of urban life, stay updated and share your opinion about eVTOL's impact on our quality of life! ✈️💬
