Keep in mind that not every helicopter spoiling your waterfront is sightseeing. Public safety, medical, and even private travel helicopter flights are very common in New York, so if you ban sightseeing you’re still only part of the way there. I’d suggest that it’s really just the size of NYC causing the annoyance that you experience.

Look at the bright side: they aren’t Hueys. You’d probably lose your mind if a squadron of angry Hueys thumped up the FDR on the deck. At least the average 206 or Eurocopter you’d see is designed to be somewhat reasonable.