In addition to the fact that helicopter blades chop through the air, the nickname “chopper” comes from the sound helicopters make as they fly overhead; a distinctive chop chop chop noise.
It’s a sound familiar to many Arlington locals living along military flight paths. On Jan. 16, a forum hosted by U.S. Rep. Don Beyer at Abingdon Elementary School will give residents an opportunity to speak up about the issue. The meeting is part of a study included in legislation Beyer put forward directing the Pentagon to study flight routes and noise mitigation measures.
“Since I came to Congress my office has received frequent and numerous complaints about excessive noise generated by helicopters flying over the National Capital Region,” said Beyer in an email. “My amendment requiring the Department of Defense to study and report to Congress possible changes to flight paths to mitigate the noise problem was included into legislation signed into law in 2016, and that language required [Department of Defense] to meet with the community to solicit feedback on its study before issuing a final report. The meeting which I am hosting on Jan. 16 will allow members of the community to engage with representatives from [Department of Defense] directly to offer their feedback, which I hope will lead to these concerns being addressed.”