In the midst of ongoing court battles over the future of East Hampton Town Airport (JPX) in New York, the FAA has published new instrument approach procedures.
Officials with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), say this affirms the FAA’s “commitment to protecting public access to the general aviation facility vital to the east end of Long Island, New York.”
“This marks an important step toward enhancing safety and improving access to the airport while the battle to ensure its future continues,” said Alex Gertsen, NBAA director of airports and ground infrastructure.
In August 2022, the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division declined to hear an appeal by the town of East Hampton to immediately toss out temporary restraining orders (TROs) that prevent the town from moving forward with plans to close the airport and reopen it as a private-use facility with new access restrictions designed to curtail flight operations, NBAA officials noted.
While the TROs allowed JPX to continue normal operations, some technical aspects of the planned transition could not be halted in time for the May 19 chart cycle, including the new identifier and the airport’s designation on the charts to “Pvt.”
The new, privately developed instrument approach procedures associated with JPX also went into effect at that time, requiring “a cumbersome process” for pilots who wanted to use them prior to the FAA’s publication of the new procedure, NBAA officials said.
A New York Supreme Court judge granted the TROs on May 16, halting any actions affecting the airport’s status as he considers complaints brought against the town by multiple airport stakeholders alleging violations of the State Environmental Quality Review Act, as well as other laws.
That followed a separate complaint filed May 14 by NBAA in federal court to enjoin the town’s attempt to circumvent the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 and prevent it from closing the airport or imposing restrictions.
Both state and federal court cases are pending as the courts consider the merits of the litigations.
As operations continue unabated at JPX with the TROs in effect, Gertsen encouraged pilots flying into the airport to “continue to fly neighborly, observe the voluntary curfew, and follow the applicable routes and noise abatement procedures.”
Meanwhile, airport advocates have continued their efforts to preserve East Hampton Town Airport. That includes the continuation of the annual East Hampton Aviation Association (EHAA) “Just Plane Fun Day,” which was held Sept. 10.
“Events like Just Plane Fun Day are key to reminding the local residents of the many important roles and missions supported by the airport, including its economic benefit to the community, emergency response services, and medical flights,” said EHAA President Kent Feuerring.
Previous reading said the airport was opened in the 1930s. Thus the homes were built around it. The issue is loud helicopters. There is a former Air Force base 36 miles or 26 minute drive east. If wealthy people had tons of money they could park a car at that former military base, Gabreski Airport and drive the remaining distance to the area of the East Hampton airport. Now wealthy probably do not want to do that, it takes time. Then also stop the helicopters.
If you are going to park you car 36 miles east of East Hampton, it better have some sort of flotation device attached!
Most politicians are only interested in what benefits THEM, personally, right now. They bloviate and yammer about “the will of the people” which in fact is whatever they define it as for their own best interests. The future will take care of itself, they’re not worried about that. Someone else will get to pick up the pieces, not their problem.
Ever see the movie “Idiocracy”? Turns out to have been a documentary instead of a comedy as originally intended.
Actually, the elected representatives are responding to the will of the vast majority of their constituents.
Question:
Should elected representatives do the will of the majority?
Or should they do what they believe is in the best interests of everyone?
Because, if it’s the former, then let’s have a democracy, ie: “two wolves and a sheep voting what’s for dinner”.
That is why the founders gave us a republic.
Once you loose the airport you will never get it back. Don’t let it go.
What ever it takes.
I SECOND THE MOTION!
This fiasco is nothing more then a land grab by the politicians in the town to sell off the land to developers.
We can not afford this to happen and the closure of East Hampton will greatly effect our air travel and our National Security .
Anyone that has driven to the east end of Long Island knows the traffic jams and literally the hours it takes to drive to this part of Long Island….
Again nothing but politics and the moron politicians have no ideas the problems they are causing for their own residents……..THROW THE BUMS OUT !!!!