Fight or Flight: Helicopter Owners Should Have a Heart on Valentine’s Day

Residents of the 13^th District near the airport have bought the flowers; they’ve bought the chocolate; they’ve written out their cards. They have a special night booked with their beloved.

Unfortunately, so do the helicopter tours at the airport.  Imagine yelling to your sweetheart that you love them over the whomp, whomp of rotating blades above your house. You don’t have to imagine if you live in one of the neighborhoods north of the airport. You can experience it first-hand!

Where was the notice to the neighbors before this new service was flown in under the radar? Where was the attempt to reach out to their elected representatives, whether at the City (last I checked, I am still the Alderman of the area), or at the County, which actually owns the airport?

I demand a meeting with the airport representatives, the helicopter owners, and the businesses that supply the pit crew for the choppers on airport grounds. For those who would say I am making a federal case out of “a little noise,” I invite you to come and listen for yourselves.

Besides, given that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may be the only ones who have authority here, I think a federal case is warranted.

In the meantime, residents can and should call the County Airport’s “Noise Concern Line” at 414-747-4677, email them at info@mitchellairport.com, or complete the online complaint form here:

https://www.mitchellairport.com/airport-information/noise-management/contactreport-anoise-event

I ask the helicopter owners to feel the love for the residents near the airport by imagining, just for one second, what it would be like to live there themselves.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.