Now that FAA control has lapsed, it is imperative that the East Hampton Town Board immediately return East Hampton Airport to its traditional and intended local use, and reclaim our precious peace and quiet for ourselves and wildlife, by imposing curfews and excluding helicopters and other noisiest aircraft types from using the airport.
Why is this important?
To the East Hampton Town board members:
East Hampton Airport was traditionally intended to serve local pilot-owned and operated aircraft for personal recreation and transportation. Yet, aircraft noise due to unintended and non-traditional users of East Hampton Airport -- commercially operated helicopters, jets, and seaplanes -- has grown to become an intolerable burden on the peaceful enjoyment of our homes and gardens, both near to and distant from the airport, upon our beaches, waterways, and preserved open space, and upon wildlife habitat throughout the East End.
This occurred over time, without local design or consent, due to Federal Aviation Administration control over the airport. Attempts to protect homes by directing traffic over preserved open space and wildlife habitat are both unacceptable and a demonstrated failure.
Now that FAA control has lapsed, it is imperative that the East Hampton Town Board immediately return East Hampton Airport to its traditional and intended use, reclaiming our precious peace and quiet, by imposing a curfew and excluding helicopters and other aircraft types noisier than the pilot-owned and operated aircraft for which the airport was designed and intended.
