Fixtur
Dunning-Kruger Expert
What a goat-rope.
The Town of East Hampton, under pressure from a small but very vocal minority, have voted to close KHTO at the end of this month and reopen four days later as a "prior permission" airport. This, they thought, would enable them to allow the local billionaires who use the airport to continue doing so while excluding anyone else and appeasing the multimillionaires who are upset with all the airplane noise in the summer.
Enter the Feds, who last week sent to the town a letter saying "not so fast...". Reopening the airport may take two years depending on reestablishing procedures, certifying equipment and tower personnel, and putting in place an LOA with the NY TRACON. In any case, the airport will be VFR only as soon as it is officially closed. Naturally, this is rather useless option for jets in summer fog. (Not a problem for small planes and helicopters on SVFR clearances!)
The Town insists that they are moving forward with their plan despite the FAA's letter. I'm watching from across the Long Island Sound with a large popcorn and great curiosity.
Fix
The Town of East Hampton, under pressure from a small but very vocal minority, have voted to close KHTO at the end of this month and reopen four days later as a "prior permission" airport. This, they thought, would enable them to allow the local billionaires who use the airport to continue doing so while excluding anyone else and appeasing the multimillionaires who are upset with all the airplane noise in the summer.
Enter the Feds, who last week sent to the town a letter saying "not so fast...". Reopening the airport may take two years depending on reestablishing procedures, certifying equipment and tower personnel, and putting in place an LOA with the NY TRACON. In any case, the airport will be VFR only as soon as it is officially closed. Naturally, this is rather useless option for jets in summer fog. (Not a problem for small planes and helicopters on SVFR clearances!)
The Town insists that they are moving forward with their plan despite the FAA's letter. I'm watching from across the Long Island Sound with a large popcorn and great curiosity.
Fix
Last edited: