From left: Jeff Smith, Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) board chair; Josh Rousseau, VAI Northeastern US Regional Representative; Paul Tramontana, ERHC airspace coordinator; and Jeff Hyman of Helo Kearny Heliport gather at the ERHC membership meeting May 13 in Kearny, New Jersey. VAI provides airspace-issues update at ERHC membership meeting At the May 13 membership meeting of the Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) in Kearny, New Jersey, VAI Northeastern US Regional Representative Josh Rousseau made sure attendees understood the importance of the relationship between the two vertical aviation organizations. Describing the “steadfast partnership” the two groups enjoy, Rousseau noted how, together, the ERHC and VAI “keep the Northeast’s vertical aviation ecosystem moving—safely, efficiently, and responsibly” by uniting operators, airports, regulators, and communities to “protect access, elevate safety standards, and strengthen the industry’s public standing in one of the nation’s most complex airspace environments.” Rousseau updated ERHC members on low-altitude airspace integration issues, including helicopter routing, Parts 108 and 146, radio frequency, spectrum capacity, unmanned aircraft systems, and more. The update, Rousseau noted, helps inform critical operational discussion about upcoming airspace priorities such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer tournament and the America250 celebrations on Jul. 4, 2026. The meeting also enabled attendees to share invaluable information about local and regional operational changes, restrictions, and requirements before the busy summer season. “Community compatibility work isn’t flashy, with results often going unnoticed or underappreciated,” Rousseau says. “While the new FAA visual separation order general notice has tested traditional thinking and added literal volume to residents’ concerns, it’s also created opportunities to continue to do the hard work that produces real results. Without waiting for the first new noise complaint, VAI got to work, and with the operational innovation and expertise of the ERHC and the collaboration and professionalism of local FAA tower staff, previous Kearny community compatibility mitigation has been dramatically improved for a tangibly better quality of life.”
