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| ‘Millionaires Versus Billionaires’: The Fight Over a Hamptons Airport | ‘Millionaires Versus Billionaires’: The Fight Over a Hamptons Airport |
| (2 days later) | |
| On Thursday morning, Andy Sabin, 76, stepped from the roaring Sikorsky S-76 helicopter he part-owns onto the tarmac of the airport in East Hampton, N.Y., with an air of triumph. The day before, a state judge ruled that the Long Island town’s move to privatize its noisy municipal airport this spring — drastically cutting down air traffic — was illegal, reigniting a longstanding feud that beleaguered homeowners below the flight path believed they had at last won. | On Thursday morning, Andy Sabin, 76, stepped from the roaring Sikorsky S-76 helicopter he part-owns onto the tarmac of the airport in East Hampton, N.Y., with an air of triumph. The day before, a state judge ruled that the Long Island town’s move to privatize its noisy municipal airport this spring — drastically cutting down air traffic — was illegal, reigniting a longstanding feud that beleaguered homeowners below the flight path believed they had at last won. |
| Set in an enclave of shingle-style mansions and potato fields, the airport has long been a battleground between aviators and neighbors, some of whom say their summers are spoiled by excessive aircraft noise. With the advent of loud, ride-share style helicopters about 10 years ago, the fight, derided by some as millionaires vs. billionaires (those who can afford beach homes, and those who can afford roughly $700 copter jaunts to get to the beach), escalated. | |
| The town planned to close the public airport in May — and then reopen it as a private facility where traffic would be limited to a handful of flights each day. In response to the announcement, aviators, aircraft ride-share companies and business owners who believe the airport brings needed customers to the region sought an injunction in Suffolk County Supreme Court. The initial result was a temporary restraining order preventing the changeover, issued by Justice Paul J. Baisley of the New York State Supreme Court a day before the planned May 17 closure. | The town planned to close the public airport in May — and then reopen it as a private facility where traffic would be limited to a handful of flights each day. In response to the announcement, aviators, aircraft ride-share companies and business owners who believe the airport brings needed customers to the region sought an injunction in Suffolk County Supreme Court. The initial result was a temporary restraining order preventing the changeover, issued by Justice Paul J. Baisley of the New York State Supreme Court a day before the planned May 17 closure. |
| In his Oct. 19 ruling, Justice Baisley went further, forbidding the switch to occur at all. The town’s plan was impermissible for several reasons, the justice wrote; among them, it ran afoul of federal law by restricting flights without first going through a required federal process. | In his Oct. 19 ruling, Justice Baisley went further, forbidding the switch to occur at all. The town’s plan was impermissible for several reasons, the justice wrote; among them, it ran afoul of federal law by restricting flights without first going through a required federal process. |
| In addition, the town had justified its decision to close the public airport based on a plan to conduct a comprehensive environmental review — after it was closed. In his ruling, Justice Baisley said such a retrospective look defeated the point of an environmental assessment. In proposing it, the town “acted both beyond its legal abilities and in an arbitrary and capricious manner.” | In addition, the town had justified its decision to close the public airport based on a plan to conduct a comprehensive environmental review — after it was closed. In his ruling, Justice Baisley said such a retrospective look defeated the point of an environmental assessment. In proposing it, the town “acted both beyond its legal abilities and in an arbitrary and capricious manner.” |
| On Friday, the East Hampton Town Board pushed back against the justice’s decision, saying in a statement that the order did not take into account the “overwhelming community consensus in favor of common-sense airport regulations.” The board said it was reviewing its options, including appealing the ruling. “The town remains firmly committed to ensuring that its airport best serves the community,” the statement said. | On Friday, the East Hampton Town Board pushed back against the justice’s decision, saying in a statement that the order did not take into account the “overwhelming community consensus in favor of common-sense airport regulations.” The board said it was reviewing its options, including appealing the ruling. “The town remains firmly committed to ensuring that its airport best serves the community,” the statement said. |
| The decision was a blow for those who say their pool parties and backyard barbecues have been increasingly marred by growling aircraft. In 2019, more than 30,000 flights went to and from the small airport. That summer season over 47,000 noise complaints poured in. | The decision was a blow for those who say their pool parties and backyard barbecues have been increasingly marred by growling aircraft. In 2019, more than 30,000 flights went to and from the small airport. That summer season over 47,000 noise complaints poured in. |
| In 2020, even with flights limited by the coronavirus pandemic, they continued to come. Two households complained a combined 4,638 times that summer season, according to town data. | In 2020, even with flights limited by the coronavirus pandemic, they continued to come. Two households complained a combined 4,638 times that summer season, according to town data. |
| Residents also feared the constant noise could affect the value of their properties, a concern local real estate agents said had not appeared to materialize. | Residents also feared the constant noise could affect the value of their properties, a concern local real estate agents said had not appeared to materialize. |
| John Kirrane, who retired from financial services and lives year round in the hamlet of Noyack in Southampton beneath a flight route to the airport, described those who would keep the airport open as selfish. | John Kirrane, who retired from financial services and lives year round in the hamlet of Noyack in Southampton beneath a flight route to the airport, described those who would keep the airport open as selfish. |
| “The environmental damage being done by a very few number of privileged people, I find it distasteful to say the least,” he said. “There is a group of people who feel they have to get here at the expenses of everyone else under the flight paths.” | “The environmental damage being done by a very few number of privileged people, I find it distasteful to say the least,” he said. “There is a group of people who feel they have to get here at the expenses of everyone else under the flight paths.” |
| Many in the opposing camp feel the same about people seeking to limit flights to the Hamptons, a place where the seasonal population pours in down the Long Island Expressway and Long Island Rail Road tracks each summer, and tensions between haves and have-lots often boil over. | Many in the opposing camp feel the same about people seeking to limit flights to the Hamptons, a place where the seasonal population pours in down the Long Island Expressway and Long Island Rail Road tracks each summer, and tensions between haves and have-lots often boil over. |
| In recent years, in an effort to stem the complaints, operators switched from a flight path that took them over heavily populated areas including on the island’s North Fork, to a route designed to abate some noise, over the Atlantic Ocean, then turning west over East Hampton. | In recent years, in an effort to stem the complaints, operators switched from a flight path that took them over heavily populated areas including on the island’s North Fork, to a route designed to abate some noise, over the Atlantic Ocean, then turning west over East Hampton. |
| John Cullen, 62, who lives in Northville in Riverhead, said that until the switch, more than 100 helicopters a day flew over his home. With the ruling, he said, “the quality of life for the people down below is going down and down and down.” | John Cullen, 62, who lives in Northville in Riverhead, said that until the switch, more than 100 helicopters a day flew over his home. With the ruling, he said, “the quality of life for the people down below is going down and down and down.” |
| Rob Wiesenthal, the chief executive officer of Blade Air Mobility, a helicopter ride-share company that had been one of the plaintiffs, said that the company will abide by existent recommended curfews and stick to the abatement routes. “We hope the ruling leads to constructive discussions between the town and all East Hampton Airport stakeholders,” Mr. Wiesenthal, who was represented in court by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, said in an emailed statement. | Rob Wiesenthal, the chief executive officer of Blade Air Mobility, a helicopter ride-share company that had been one of the plaintiffs, said that the company will abide by existent recommended curfews and stick to the abatement routes. “We hope the ruling leads to constructive discussions between the town and all East Hampton Airport stakeholders,” Mr. Wiesenthal, who was represented in court by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, said in an emailed statement. |
| For Mr. Sabin, this week’s ruling was a triumph. “My time is extremely valuable,” he said. Mr. Sabin owns an international metals company and uses his helicopter and three shared jets to cut his commute from Manhattan to his home in the hamlet of Amagansett to just 40 minutes. Driving can take three or more hours on the snaking Long Island Expressway. | For Mr. Sabin, this week’s ruling was a triumph. “My time is extremely valuable,” he said. Mr. Sabin owns an international metals company and uses his helicopter and three shared jets to cut his commute from Manhattan to his home in the hamlet of Amagansett to just 40 minutes. Driving can take three or more hours on the snaking Long Island Expressway. |
| But the ruling will not mean a skyborne free-for-all, he added. “The aviators are very happy,” Mr. Sabin said. “But they are not going to abuse this.” | But the ruling will not mean a skyborne free-for-all, he added. “The aviators are very happy,” Mr. Sabin said. “But they are not going to abuse this.” |