Helicopters offering rides from Saint-Hubert airport have not finished generating controversy: they have changed routes following complaints from residents of Longueuil, but they still upset the citizens of Saint-Hubert. Lambert, whose mayor promises to fight to ban flights over her city.
Posted at 4:41 p.m.
“We will do everything to put an end to this activity,” indignant Mayor Pascale Mongrain, furious. “It’s a lack of civility, we can’t allow companies to make so much noise above otherwise peaceful residential areas. Getting knocked out with the constant noise of the devices, we say no! »
It is the Helicraft flight school that is the target of these criticisms, because of its helicopter tours that allow you to admire Montreal and the river from the air.
For a year, residents of eastern Longueuil, neighbors of the airport, complained of being disturbed by helicopters that flew too low and too often above their homes.
“The noise was appalling! commented the Mayor of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier.
Near the airport, aircraft must fly at an altitude of less than 600 feet, to avoid the risk of collisions with planes.
Elsewhere, over urban areas, aircraft fly at more than 1,000 feet.
After several months of discussions between the City of Longueuil, Helicraft, NAV Canada and Transport Canada, a compromise was found: since April 15, the helicopters have taken off above the Boisé Du Tremblay and the industrial park, before branching off to follow highway 20 to the river. The return to the airport follows the same route.
photo from Helicraft website
Map of the “Circuit Saint-Laurent” route offered by Helicraft.
Since the routes have changed, “it’s like night and day,” rejoices Malik Yacoubi, a Longueuil resident living not far from Saint-Hubert airport, who led the charge with other citizens against the aircraft flying over their neighborhood at low altitude.
But in Saint-Lambert, people protest, because the new route passes directly above the city. Even if the altitude of 1000 feet is respected, “it’s harmful when you’re outside, because the noise is constant and repetitive on weekends,” denounced Mayor Mongrain.
photo taken from the facebook page of pascale mongrain
Pascale Mongrain, Mayor of Saint-Lambert
We are going to put pressure on the federal government to have the license withdrawn from this type of company.
Pascale Mongrain, Mayor of Saint-Lambert
But Helicraft President and COO Jimmy Joubert doesn’t hear it that way. “Aviation regulations are very clear: you can fly over cities at an altitude of 1,000 feet at all times,” he recalls.
He also points out that it was his company that proposed modifying the helicopter route last year, in response to complaints from the citizens of Longueuil, but that administrative delays prevented him from implementing the changes more rapidly.
Pascale Mongrain intends to take advantage of the consultation on the future of the Saint-Hubert airport, from May 25 to 28, to make her citizens’ opposition to helicopter flights heard.
It also plans to oppose the construction of a terminal and the increase in air links.
“The increase in traffic will penalize several sectors,” she said. People come to settle on the South Shore because it’s residential, we want peaceful neighborhoods! »