Helicopter tour companies that offer sightseers exhilarating views of the Manhattan skyline have agreed to make some flight path changes because of noise complaints.
A city economic development agency announced some new rules for the choppers on Friday.
Tourist flights from downtown Manhattan will no longer fly over Central Park or the Empire State Building.
Tour companies have also agreed not to fly over residential Brooklyn, and eliminate very short flights that had helicopters returning to land less than eight minutes after they took off.
The changes came after waterfront residents complained that chopper noise had gotten much worse in the weeks since all tour flights in the city were relocated to a single helipad near the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
Amid Angry Buzz, Tourist Choppers Make Concessions
Flights from downtown Manhattan will no longer fly over Central Park or the Empire State Building
Copyright AP - Associated Press
