East Hampton Airport (KHTO) — a publicly-owned, public-use airport — will close on May 17, 2022, and reopen May 19 as East Hampton Town Airport (KJPX), a publicly-owned, private-use airport.
That means starting on May 19, prior permission will be required to land at JPX.
“HTO previously received federal grants-in-aid for airport development and was subject to statutory grant assurances, but the town is no longer contractually obligated to continue operating HTO as a public use airport,” an April 15, 2022, notice in the Federal Register stated.
I don’t know when the town of East Hampton last received a grant from the FAA, but it would’ve come with a multi-year — 10 to 20 years — grant assurance.
It’s not hard to see why the town stopped applying for grants. It wanted to gain complete operational control of the airport so it could better balance the opportunity an airport offers with the noise (let’s call it what it is) that comes along with those opportunities.
From the town of East Hampton airport overview page:
“Increased traffic at the airport in recent years has created growing concerns about noise pollution, public health, safety, and environmental impacts. These impacts are not well-aligned with East Hampton’s identity as a resort community committed to sustaining the quality of life and the quiet enjoyment of its rich natural, cultural, and scenic resources. At the same time, the airport provides positive values to the community, including employment, economic, and recreation opportunities, as well as access for emergency, medical, and civilian services.”
An April 12, 2022, presentation outlined the study the town will conduct over the upcoming summer busy season to better inform the prior permission required (PPR) status.
Data collected will be “circulated for public comment and the Town Board will consider the impact of PPR in deciding whether and how to operate the airport in the future.”
“Whether”? Yikes.
The PPR is not a ban. General Aviation operators will “largely have blanket permission to operate during non-curfew hours,” according to officials.
Permission
A handful of permission categories will govern when and what can operate at JPX:
- Time-based: Monday-Thursday: 8 am-8 pm and Friday-Sunday (and federal holidays): 9 am-7 pm. These operations will impact 13% of operations and 38% of complaints.
- Operator-based: Part 135 and Part 91k operators will be limited to one daily round trip per aircraft, impacting 13% of operations, eliminate 24% of commercial operations, and address 35% of complaints.
- Noise-based: Aircraft that are 91.0 EPNdB or louder are limited to one daily round trip. Fixed wing, piston driven aircraft are presumed to be not noisy. This will impact 6% of operations, eliminate 11% of operations, and address 20% of complaints.
- Size-based: Aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight in excess of 50,000 pounds are not allowed and will impact 19% of commercial jet operations and 13% of total jet operations.
- Environmental-based: Lead-based fuel will be phased out at JPX.
- Finally, prior written permission from the airport director will be required to operate an ultralight, tow a banner, skydive, operate a Stage 1 or 2 jet, and perform touch and go operations from JPX.
Airports are easy targets. Aircraft make noise. You and I, we likely enjoy that noise. But we aren’t in the majority. Sadly.
The types of airplanes I fly in will see little impact once the lights turn back on at JPX on May 19. For that I’m thankful.
I’ve never been to East Hampton. But I have been to a few resort towns. Balancing what makes a place a resort (atmosphere) with what keeps a place a resort (money) will never be easy.
The town played the long game and is now in control. We’ll see what happens.
Can anyone tell me another private airport in the country with a 3 letter ident (not mixed with #s), NOTAM accountability, and the primary purpose is unrelated to military (like 06FA) that has public listing? If noise is actually a concern for the town, perhaps they should convert this to a public dirigible field rather than legally giving town council approval of who specifically can use the airport.
The airport should be changed into a solar farm to produce electricity for the Town residents….which is a highly environmental use of the 600 acres…
As far as the noise good ridden…
The airport use is excessive and the reluctance of pilots and the air industry to fly the South shore route or the entire North Shore route and the FAA failure to enforce such routes led to this action…The air industry has only themselves to blame!!!!
Failure to compromise is the quagmire our country is stuck in at this time…. In all our endeavors…too bad
Only time will tell if the actions now being taken by East Hampton will lessen the noise or the all too frequency of the aircraft overhead.
The only aircraft I don’t mind but rather enjoy seeing and hearing is that of out Air National Guard flying into Gambreski….their frequency is minimal, their sighting patriotic
I have been to KHTO many times for instructional, personal and charter flights. Nice airport. I find it amusing that the people who complain about the noise are also the ones who use the airport to get to their destination. Yes it is noisy, but it is people commuting to the resort who are making the noise.
Driving to East Hampton on the LIE (Long Island Expressway) is a super stressful event. It is either the world’s longest parking lot or many miles of demolition derby. Therefore, for those who can afford the cost, the alternative is to fly in.
I hope that the town leadership is up to the task of balancing the noise vs utility of the airport. I wish them well.