East Hampton has delayed its controversial plan to shut the city airport from the top of the month to Might amid a number of lawsuits and intense backlash from the FAA, the city board introduced Thursday.
Politicians within the tony city voted final month to shut the decades-old East Hampton Airport on Feb. 28, and reopen on March 4, beneath non-public, town-controlled possession.
The “new” airport is then anticipated to solely enable privately owned plane to land on its tarmac — a transfer meant to appease the city’s super-rich who personal jets and choppers, whereas reducing down on noise air pollution.
As a part of the scheme, the city would be capable of accumulate $10 million in federal surplus funds allotted to the “outdated” airport.
The FAA was livid when it caught wind of the plan, and despatched the city a point-by-point refutation of the plan’s feasibility earlier this month. One supply mentioned behind closed doorways the feds in command of the skies had been calling the city board members “reckless and ruthless.”
The city board voted unanimously Thursday for the delay, saying the brand new closure date could be Might 17 and it expects the tarmac to reopen on Might 19. The board didn't instantly return the Publish’s request for remark.
The choice comes after a Feb. 16 assembly between the city and the FAA, the board mentioned, the place the teams mentioned a brand new timeline “acceptable to each events.”
Loren Riegelhaupt, a spokesperson for the Japanese Area Helicopter Council, praised the delay, however advised the Publish in an announcement he nonetheless worries a couple of future, “misguided” closure.
“We're happy the East Hampton City Board is beginning to hearken to commonsense options and delayed their plans for the airport to permit for extra discussions and alternate options,” he mentioned, calling on all sides to “cease submitting lawsuits” and imploring the city “to not rush forward with their misguided plans to shut the airport.”
Riegelhaupt is simply one of many many opposing voices who've made their worries clear to the board.
International Medical Response, the nation’s largest supplier of medical helicopters and air ambulances, wrote a letter to the city board on Feb. 8 expressing “excessive concern” concerning the shuttering.
“Any period of time this airport is out of service could possibly be detrimental, and the closure of this airport would adversely affect the well being and security of our neighborhood,” it mentioned in a letter supplied to the Publish, expressing fears about how it might safely evacuate residents in an emergency.
Sixty p.c of East Hampton and Montauk-area medical evacuations have been taking place on the airport, regardless that the city downplayed the tarmac’s position in emergencies companies, an aviation insider advised the Publish.
Because the authentic vote, the city board has been inundated with lawsuits.
On Feb. 9, the estates of the late builder-to-the-stars Ben Krupinski and his spouse Bonnie — who had been meant to land at East Hampton Airport earlier than their airplane tragically crashed into the Atlantic in 2018, killing the couple and two others — filed an injunction by an LCC to maintain the airport open.
Among the many different fits is one filed towards the city on Feb. 15 by plaintiffs who each use the airport and who could be affected by rerouted flight paths.
Further reporting by Ian Mohr.
Post a Comment