VAI-led coalition defeats New York State ‘noise tax’ on helicopter operations Thanks to the advocacy efforts of the VAI Government Affairs team, the New York State government’s regularly scheduled legislative session has concluded without passage of a “noise tax” on helicopter operations. Due to the work of a coalition of stakeholders led by VAI Northeastern US Regional Representative Josh Rousseau, the tax was first rejected in the state budget process in April 2025 and then again this week at the conclusion of legislative business. This type of measure on the part of the New York State Legislature contravenes well-established federal law, as the FAA holds sole jurisdiction to regulate all aspects of aviation operations, including noise-related standards and regulations. Uniform federal authority is an essential predicate to maintaining safe and efficient transportation in the US National Airspace System. The vertical aviation industry is vital for supporting key sectors in the New York economy, including emergency services, transportation, business aviation, and tourism. As such, our community is vital to shaping both the national and state economies by supporting a workforce of thousands and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic productivity. This tax, were it to be enacted, would send a message that New York is hostile to our industry and the current and future investment opportunities we support. We are at a critical junction in the national and global airspace conversation. Safety, air traffic control modernization, airspace integration, and community compatibility are all on the front burner for current leaders in Washington, D.C., and we continue to strongly urge them to embrace their regulatory role in order for the imminent expansion and integration of our airspace to be safe, seamless, and successful—so that our piece of the global puzzle fits in place. It’s the only way to avoid the emergence of a patchwork of local and regional laws and regulations not grounded in safety or a thorough understanding of aviation operations. The issues raised in New York are so much bigger than any one community or region—this is about the safe integration and monitoring of our airspace system guided by the expertise, experience, and passion of experts in our industry.
