East Hampton Seeks To Limit Aircraft Ops at Its Airport

The East Hampton, N.Y. town board is expected to pass a resolution tonight rejecting future federal airport funding, clearing the path for it to limit and/or ban certain types of aircraft operations–including helicopters, jets and seaplanes–at East Hampton Airport beginning with the 2015 summer tourism season. The town could impose an Aspen-style slot system on all traffic in combination with curfews and significantly increased landing fees, fuel prices and hangar rents.

Specific board action to limit airport operations requires a public comment period before enactment, but is not subject to public referendum. The town board believes it has the legal authority to impose the restrictions based on an agreement it negotiated with the FAA to end its federal airport funding grant assurances this December–seven years early.

The Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC) and other general aviation groups, including NBAA and the Helicopter Association International (HAI), maintain that this agreement is illegal and plan a court challenge, believing that the town must honor grant assurances through 2021.