Helicopter traffic in Redrocks NCA.

Have you noticed the increasing helicopter traffic in Redrocks?
We counted fourteen laps of the same helicopter (# NT509L) in one afternoon at Redrocks recently. Flying level with our elevation and sometimes below our elevation midway up Calico Hills.
In my opinion, one helicopter flying tours in a national conservation area is too many!
If you are similarly annoyed by these noisy intrusions then email and telephone your opposition to:
Mark Spencer at -> m1spence@blm.gov

and

Kip Shoemaker at -> kip.p.shoemaker@faa.gov (702-617-8564)

Lee Vogel wrote:Have you noticed the increasing helicopter traffic in Redrocks? We counted fourteen laps of the same helicopter (# NT509L) in one afternoon at Redrocks recently. Flying level with our elevation and sometimes below our elevation midway up Calico Hills. In my opinion, one helicopter flying tours in a national conservation area is too many! If you are similarly annoyed by these noisy intrusions then email and telephone your opposition to: Mark Spencer at -> m1spence@blm.gov and Kip Shoemaker at -> kip.p.shoemaker@faa.gov (702-617-8564)

I'm not sure exactly your beef - you aren't indicating you think they are breaking the laws, just annoying? And maybe hoping to change the law?

At any rate, I think you have the tail number wrong. Probably N7509L.

It is registered to Dean Miarecki and looks to be flown for Skyline Helicopter Tours. It shows up there, and on their facebook page.

I remember hearing about this on NPR. Here's a link to the article:

The Desert Companion

...and a few quotes:

"Now, it’s time to preserve the silence. But Calico Basin residents have discovered that preserving this invisible natural resource is difficult. The Bureau of Land Management, which oversees national conservation areas, doesn’t have jurisdiction over the skies. The FAA does, but it says the private company isn’t violating any laws. And that company, Skyline Helicopter Tours, isn’t returning phone calls (including Desert Companion’s)."

"Skyline Helicopter Tours has existed since at least June 2013, when owner Dean Miarecki filed the LLC with the Nevada Secretary of State."

"There are no further restrictions pertaining to Red Rock specifically or conservation areas in general, Gregor says. However, the FAA in 2004 issued voluntary guidelines for flights in noise-sensitive areas ranging from residential areas to wildlife refuges. Pilots are asked to avoid such places, if practical, and, if not, to “make every effort to fly not less than 2,000 feet above ground level.”"

"The BLM says it’s received complaints about the noise, but doesn’t have any regulatory authority, so it’s referred callers to the FAA."

Maybe with enough pressure and/or negative press, either Mr. Miarecki will reconsider his flight plans or the FAA will regulate? Apparently he doesn't return phone calls, so maybe he'd listen to Yelp reviews (history has shown this to be pretty effective)?

Skyline Helicopter Tours' YELP page

Skyline Helicopter Tours on Facebook