Overhead nuisance: Residents weary of helicopter noise

Adrienne Packer

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 11:27 a.m.

There is nothing peaceful about the warm evenings at Edson "Skip" Parker's Las Vegas home.

Some nights it resembles a war zone, as helicopters buzz above rooftops, shuttling visitors on scenic tours of the Grand Canyon or treating them to a view of the Las Vegas Strip.

"When I'm home at night, it's the only sound that penetrates through the house," said Parker, who lives near Charleston Boulevard and Interstate 15. "It's a throbbing, penetrating noise."

Parker and his neighbors have had enough. So have lawmakers who represent Las Vegas Valley residents whose homes are near the Strip or to the east, below the well-traveled flight path to the Grand Canyon.

"They fly at such a low level it's really noisy," said Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, who is one of several Southern Nevada legislators who back a bill that would strengthen commercial helicopter regulations.

"It's one after the other for hours. It seemed like if I had a good arm I could nail some of these with a rock or a baseball, they're so low."

Assembly Bill 490 won't immediately offer relief to homeowners. The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Chris Guinchigliani, D-Las Vegas, requires that the state's largest counties establish committees to address the issue.

The committees would include helicopter operators, airport administrators, residents and elected officials. They would create restriction recommendations related to altitudes, operating times and flight paths.

Some laws could be created by the state but, because the tour-guide businesses are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, most would have to be approved by the federal government.

The helicopter companies targeted by the bill are commercial operators; police, military and medical aircraft are exempt.

Gerald Shlesinger, owner of Las Vegas Helicopters, said the six operators in town were "blindsided" by the bill. He is angry that neither elected officials nor residents had discussed their concerns with the businesses.

"The helicopter companies are ready, willing and able to work it out," said Shlesinger, whose business is on the Strip and offers several night trips along the resort corridor and day trips to the Grand Canyon. "This came out of left field; it just appeared."

When Parker moved into his home a decade ago, he was well aware of the surrounding noise -- helicopters from University Medical Center, Interstate 15 and the railroad tracks.

And Parker, a Vietnam War helicopter pilot, said he doesn't mind the commercial helicopters, either. He believes, however, that they should be required to fly higher than 800 feet after taking off or approaching McCarran International Airport.

The 90 to 100 commercial helicopter flights passing overhead every day has become unreasonable, he said.

"It's getting out of hand," he said. "They have certain rights to operate commercial business but not to become a public nuisance. They have become a public nuisance."

Shlesinger resents the fact that his industry is being singled out and treated as intruders. Since opening his business nine years ago, he and his employees have become part of the community.

"Helicopters are the political football right now. It's like, 'Let's go beat those guys up instead of let's go talk about it,' " Shlesinger said. "We are a viable thriving part of the tourist industry. We are ingrained in the tourist industry and generate a lot of money and jobs for this town."

The situation isn't foreign to Clark County commissioners who, as the city continues to thrive, are forced to balance residents' quality of life with the success of the tourism industry.

Some issues will be difficult to resolve. For example, if the helicopters fly much higher, they will creep into the flight paths of airliners at McCarran and aircraft operating out of Nellis Air Force Base.

Commissioner Myrna Williams realizes there are obstacles, but she backs Giunchigliani's bill because at least it will bring the problem to the attention of the federal government.

"It's gotten worse and worse," she said. "When you only had one or two helicopters a day, it wasn't bad. Now, it's like every couple minutes."