[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 127 (Monday, July 20, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S4267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand):
  S. 4219. A bill to extend the special air traffic rule for civil 
helicopters operating VFR along the North Shore, Long Island, New York, 
to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to 
promulgate a new special air traffic rule, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 4219

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Long Island All-Water 
     Helicopter Route Act of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, NORTH SHORE AND SOUTH SHORE 
                   HELICOPTER ROUTES.

       (a) Extension of Special Air Traffic Rule for North 
     Shore.--Notwithstanding the ending date for the period 
     described in section 93.101 of title 14, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, the special air traffic rule for civil 
     helicopters operating VFR along the North Shore, Long Island, 
     New York, in effect under subpart H of part 93 of title 14, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, on August 6 2020, shall remain 
     in effect through the day before the date on which the final 
     version of the special air traffic rule promulgated under 
     subsection (b) is published.
       (b) Rulemaking Proceeding .--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Administrator'') shall conduct a rulemaking proceeding to 
     promulgate a special air traffic rule for civil helicopters 
     operating VFR along the North Shore and South Shore of Long 
     Island, New York, in accordance with the requirements of this 
     subsection.
       (2) Requirements.--The special air traffic rule promulgated 
     under this subsection shall require the following:
       (A) North shore helicopter route.--Each person who pilots a 
     civil helicopter operating VFR along Long Island, New York's 
     northern shoreline between the VPLYD waypoint and Plum Island 
     shall--
       (i) based on the most recently published editions by the 
     Federal Aviation Administration of the New York Helicopter 
     Route Chart and the Northeast Aeronautical Chart Bulletin, 
     adhere to an all-water North Shore Helicopter Route that 
     includes operating around Orient Point, Shelter Island, and 
     Plum Island;
       (ii) mitigate noise by flying at least 1 mile from the 
     shoreline and at an altitude of not less than 2,500 feet mean 
     sea level; and
       (iii) prohibit deviations from the North Shore Helicopter 
     Route for purposes of transitioning to or from a destination 
     or point of landing when departing from or arriving to 
     locations east of longitude 7216'04" W.
       (B) South shore helicopter route.--Each person who pilots a 
     civil helicopter operating VFR along Long Island, New York's 
     southern shoreline between Breezy Point Jetty and the VPMLT 
     waypoint shall--
       (i) based on the most recently published editions by the 
     Federal Aviation Administration of the New York Helicopter 
     Route Chart and the Northeast Aeronautical Chart Bulletin, 
     adhere to an all-water South Shore Helicopter Route; and
       (ii) mitigate noise by flying at least 1 mile from the 
     shoreline and at an altitude of not less than 2,500 feet mean 
     sea level.
       (C) Exceptions.--A person who pilots a civil helicopter 
     operating VFR along Long Island, New York's northern 
     shoreline or southern shoreline may deviate from the North 
     Shore Helicopter Route or South Shore Helicopter Route--
       (i) when necessary for safety or weather conditions; or
       (ii) except as prohibited under subparagraph (A)(iii), when 
     transitioning to or from a destination or point of landing.
       (D) Flight report.--
       (i) Submission.--If safety or weather conditions cause a 
     person piloting a civil helicopter operating VFR to deviate 
     from the North Shore Helicopter Route or South Shore 
     Helicopter Route, the person shall submit a 1-page report to 
     the Administrator identifying the condition not later than 14 
     days after landing.
       (ii) Public database.--The Administrator shall make the 
     reports submitted under clause (i) publically available in an 
     online searchable database.
       (3) Deadlines.--
       (A) Rulemaking proceeding.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
     publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to carry out the 
     requirements of this section.
       (B) Public comment period.--The Administrator shall provide 
     notice of, and an opportunity for, at least 30 days of public 
     comment on the special air traffic rule promulgated under 
     this subsection.
       (C) Effective date of special air traffic rule.--Not later 
     than May 1, 2021, the Administrator shall publish a final 
     version of the special air traffic rule promulgated under 
     this subsection which shall take effect upon publication.
       (c) Repeal.--Effective on the date on which the final 
     version of the special air traffic rule promulgated under 
     subsection (b) is published by the Administrator, subpart H 
     of part 93 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, is 
     repealed.
                                 ______