Upper Manhattan Residents Fed Up With Sightseeing Helicopters

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Residents in upper Manhattan are fed up with low-flying sightseeing helicopters that constantly pass by their apartments, rattling windows and nerves.

"You almost think like you're in a war zone," said Hyka Bachmann who lives at West 157th Street and Riverside Drive. "It's unbelievable because sometimes they come right after the other."

Bachmann said the helicopters fly so close to the building her 11th floor neighbor could see the eyes of the pilot or whether he's sporting a beard.

"There's actually eye contact with the pilot, that's a little much," Bachmann said.

The choppers used to fly downtown until residents in that area complained and the helicopters were rerouted to fly over less populated areas of the city, 1010 WINS' Eileen Lehpamer reported.

The city's Economic Development Corporation said there are about 25 to 30 daily flights in the winter and about 70 in the peak season, but residents said between 100 and 200 choppers fly by on a good weather day.

The EDC said overall helicopter complaints are down.

Residents recently held a community board meeting in search of peace and quiet, demanding the helicopters fly higher and less frequently.

However, some in the area don't mind the noise, saying that it's just a part of living in the Big Apple.

"It's New York City, it's a beautiful urban cacophony," one woman said.