Tug Of War Over East Hampton Airport’s Future Begins

East Hampton Town is beginning to weigh the future of East Hampton Airport and whether it should be closed down, temporarily or otherwise, after FAA grant assurances expire later this year.

Erin Sweeney, executive director of the East Hampton Community Alliance, a pilots advocacy group. Michael Wright

East Hampton Town is beginning to weigh the future of East Hampton Airport and whether it should be closed down, temporarily or otherwise, after FAA grant assurances expire later this year. Michael Wright

Kathryn Slye, a pilot and plane owner who said the airport is a critical link for emergency services like Medevac helicopters when weather is poor. Michael Wright

Defenders of the airport have said that complaints about plane noise come from a relatively small number of people who sometimes log thousands of complaints, and that many of the flights that draw complaints are not headed to East Hampton at all. Michael Wright

An U.S. Air Force officer representing the Civil Air Patrol, Air Force's civilian auxiliary, said that East Hampton Airport is a critical cog in its network of landing strips in the Northeast that are used for search and rescue and natural disaster responses. Michael Wright

Barry Raebeck, co-founder of Say No To KHTO, a group that is advocating for the closure of the airport. Michael Wright

Andy Sabin said that the airport is crucial to his business. Michael Wright

Those who would like to see East Hampton Airport closed for good rallied outside Town Hall on Tuesday ahead of a discussion on the airport's future. Michael Wright

Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni said that the "November Route" that bring helicopters over Hampton Bays, Noyac, Sag Harbor and other parts of Southampton Town enroute to East Hampton Airport should be abandoned entirely. Kyril Bromley

Opponents and supporters of the airport packed East Hampton Town Hall at only the second in-person board meeting since pandemic restrictions were lifted. The town is weighing whether to close the airport. Kyril Bromley

Tom Bogdan has led a chorus of demands from Montauk residents that East Hampton Airport not be closed because it would re-direct traffic to the airstrip on East Lake Drive. Kyril Bromley

Residents who live under flight paths called the noise from the aircraft over their homes "unbearable and unsustainable." Kyril Bromley