By: Benyamin Davidsons
Local East Hamptons board members have been working on a scheme to close the town airport and to quickly reopen it as a private, town-controlled airport, just for private jets and helicopters. Temporarily closing the airport would also allow the town to collect $10 million from a Federal Aviation Administration fund.
As reported by the NY Post, on Wednesday the plan hit a snag when the board got a fiercely-worded letter from the FAA. “The FAA was furious. They felt that they were strong-armed,” a New York aviation insider told the Post. “It’s extremely rare that the FAA ever sends a letter like this.”
Last month, the posh town’s board had voted to close the public East Hamptons Airport on Feb. 28, and then reopen it March 4. The board figures the short closure won’t be too much of an inconvenience for high-flying residents with their private jets, and hope to reopen under town ownership. Affluent residents would be happy to keep the airport for their own use, but be rid of the noisy commercial jets that come in to the two runway airport, which was first opened in 1937. Plus, the town would cash in on the FAA’s fund for the closure.
As per the Post, the FAA’s letter, sent on Wednesday to town executive Peter Van Scoyoc and BCC’d to numerous interested parties, threatens against moving forward with the plan. In the letter, the FAA warns that the plan may “violate federal appropriations law” and says it could cost the organization money it can’t spare. Also, the FAA warns that it’s unlikely they will be able to reopen in less than a week, but that it might take up to two years to reopen as a town airport—if ever. Super-rich residents, who own their own aircrafts, would not stand for such a long closure, and this possibility would spell serious trouble for the town officials.
“I moved my business here which operates worldwide… because of the airport,” said Metal mogul Andy Sabin, who has been coming to the Hamptons for nearly 50 years and anchored his business there. He said if the airport should be shuttered he would consider moving his business to Florida, Texas or South Carolina.
“The FAA letter finally clarifies the true reality of closing the East Hampton airport and just some of the damaging unintended consequences,” said Loren Riegelhaupt, a spokesperson for the Eastern Region Helicopter Council.
On Thursday, the Town Board replied to say it is undeterred by the FAA’s letter and plans to continue with the plan, and reopen the “new” airport on March 4.
