New over-water route for helicopters flying to eastern L.I. - New York News | NYC Breaking News

New over-water route for helicopters flying to eastern Long Island

Carina Faller says the helicopters flying over her Floral Park home get so close at times that her kids can see the pilots. That may soon change.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced a new federal rule requiring helicopters to fly over the Long Island sound, instead of over land.

"Now for the first time many helicopters, flying over the north shore, will be forced to fly over water, out of earshot of Long Islanders who have had helicopters disrupt their lives for so long," Schumer said.

The new rule comes after years of debate and thousands of complaints from Long Islanders in the choppers' flight paths: places like Floral Park, Smithtown, Brookhaven and Riverhead.

But the issue, and the new rule, is not without debate.

The Eastern Region Helicopter Council, representing pilots who fly to Long Island's East End, tried to block it from becoming permanent. The council wanted the FAA to allow pilots to mix up their routes so no one place gets the brunt of the noise.

In a statement, the council, said in part: "Senator Schumer's one size fits all plan is a step backward that will result in a permanent, highly concentrated and condensed flight pattern for all helicopters over the north shore and dramatically exacerbate the existing noise concerns for long island residents."

The new rule goes into effect in early August.