A temporary restraining order (TRO) was granted by the Supreme Court of the State of New York for Suffolk County that paused the planned closure of the East Hampton Airport (KHTO), and its reopening just three days later as a private-use facility.
East Hampton officials planned to close the airport at 11:59 pm (EDT) on May 17, 2022, and reopen it 33 hours later with multiple new restrictions in place, including a prior permission required program, increased landing fees, operating curfews, bans on aircraft weighing over 50,000 pounds and aircraft deemed “noisy,” and trip limits on Part 135 and 91(k) operations, according to officials with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
NBAA joined with others to file a motion in federal court May 14, asserting the scheme violated the permanent injunction issued by the court following a 2015 attempt by the town to impose similar restrictions in direct contradiction to the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 (ANCA).
A separate motion called on the court to stop any attempt by the town to circumvent ANCA and close the airport or impose restrictions.
New York Supreme Court Justice Paul Baisley, Jr. granted the TRO, halting any actions affecting the airport’s status. Following the ruling in state court, U.S. District Court Judge Joanna Seybert heard the arguments in NBAA’s case and elected to reserve action on the federal TRO while that state court TRO is in effect.
“We are pleased that East Hampton’s airport remains open as a public-use facility for all general aviation,” said Alex Gertsen, NBAA director of airports and ground infrastructure. “The TRO not only requires the airport to remain open, but also the suspension of the onerous restrictions and increased landing fees.”
However, Gertsen cautioned that the planned deactivation of KHTO, its associated instrument approach procedures, and removal of all references in the FAA and navigation provider databases, has already been set into motion and cannot be stopped, according to the FAA. Changeover to East Hampton Town Airport (JPX) is incorporated into the FAA’s latest chart cycle effective May 19.
Pilots will need to use the new identifier JPX for flight plan filing and navigation, Gertsen explained.
“Users will also, at least for now, need to file an application and go through a lengthy approval process to obtain the ability to use special instrument approach procedures that were privately developed for JPX,” he added.
“NBAA encourages pilots and operators to check the town’s guidance and NOTAMs for the latest developments, and to consult the airport website for details,” he said.
The town has always been against the airport and certain people bought property around the airport to make profit when and if the town ever closed the airport
Be clear here the town intends to close the airport completely and sell of the land for profit.
Certain policies are going to make a lot of money for sure……
The closure of KHTO will be a big loss to aviation and the town should be ashamed for their little scheme against the aviation inter structure
In a word they are morons and could care less