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S 10417

Relates to restrictions on certain flight operations at municipal facilities; relates to the use of certain heliports

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kristen Gonzalez

The bill restricts helicopter operations over NYC by banning sightseeing/production flights on public land and defines strict permitted transport uses at park heliports.

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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Bill Summary · S 10417

Summary of Bill S. 10417 (Session 2025-2026, New York)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to restrict certain flight operations at municipal facilities and to regulate the use of heliports in the city of New York, particularly focusing on prohibiting helicopter activities primarily for sightseeing, photography, videography, or similar production over New York City.
  • It aims to align Hudson River Park heliport operations with broader public-use and safety objectives, limiting non-permitted, non-tourism uses.

Key provisions and changes

  • New restriction on municipal land use (General Municipal Law)

    • Adds a new Section 98-c prohibiting a municipal corporation from permitting the use of publicly owned land for helicopter air transportation when the primary purpose is:
    • Conducting sightseeing tours over New York City, or
    • Conducting photography, videography, or similar production activities over New York City.

  • Hudson River Park Act adjustments (Chapter 592 of 1998)

    • Amends the act to redefine and refine permitted vs. prohibited helicopter uses at certain heliports:
    • (v) Amends the definition to include a “non-tourism/non-recreation heliport for permitted transportation use.”
    • Adds a new category for permitted transportation use (Section 3, subdivisions o and p):
      • Permitted uses include:
      • Heavy-lift operations for construction/infrastructure maintenance.
      • Public health and safety operations (law enforcement, emergency response, disaster response, medical services).
      • Public-benefit flights (research or official purposes by news organizations).
      • Flights conducted in accordance with FAA/US DOT rules and FAA-approved routes.
      • Prohibited flight operations are those primarily for sightseeing over NYC or photography/videography/production over NYC.
    • Expands the list of prohibited uses (Subdivision j):
      • Adds prohibitions on residential, most manufacturing (with narrow exceptions for small-scale artisan production), warehousing, hotel, incompatible governmental uses, casino/riverboat gambling or related vessel docking, and most motorized aircraft facilities (with an exception for heliports defined as park/commercial use).
      • Prohibition also targets any entity that conducts or arranges prohibited flight operations, whether or not originating from a park heliport.
      • Prohibits commercial office use except office space incidental to a permitted use; exceptions for Pier 57 and Pier 76.

  • Specific heliport development and operations (Hudson River Park Act)

    • Modifies the development/operation rules for a non-tourism/non-recreational heliport located between West 29th and West 32nd Streets:
    • Requires floating structures only (no other structures) for the heliport.
    • Floating structures must be no higher than a pier deck at low tide.
    • If a site is proposed, the act lays out site-use requirements, including RFP processes and related conditions.
    • Revisions aim to maintain waterfront compatibility and limit visual/aesthetic and safety impacts from heliport construction.

  • Protection and enforcement (Hudson River Park Act)

    • Section clarifies that the Trust must take steps to prevent prohibited uses and bar operators who conduct or arrange prohibited flight operations from accessing any heliport in the park.

  • Effective date and transition

    • The act would take effect 30 days after enactment.
    • It preserves existing uses under any lease/permit/license at enactment if those uses would become prohibited, so long as terms of the instrument allow until the end of the current term or any contract extension without altering the contractual rights, unless expressly extended.

Who is affected

  • Municipal corporations and operators of publicly owned land within New York City.
  • Operators and affiliates of heliport facilities, particularly in the Hudson River Park area (West 29th to West 32nd Streets).
  • Agencies and entities involved in helicopter-based sightseeing, photography, videography, or production activities over NYC.
  • Entities engaged in permitted transportation uses (as defined) and those affected by the new restrictions on prohibited uses.
  • The Hudson River Park Trust (to the extent it administers site planning and heliport proposals) and related leaseholders or permittees.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced May 15, 2026.
  • Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.
  • If enacted, the act would become law 30 days after enactment, with transitional protections for existing leases/permits as described.

Overall impact

  • The bill narrows the permitting of helicopter operations for sightseeing and production over New York City on public lands.
  • It clarifies and broadens prohibitions against non-permitted helicopter uses at specified park heliports, while creating a defined framework for permitted transportation activities under FAA and DOT rules.
  • It seeks to balance public safety, noise, urban aesthetics, and emergency/public-interest helicopter operations with regulated, non-tourism aviation activities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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