NORTH EAST FLIERS - EAST HAMPTON AIRPORT NEEDS YOUR HELP

[rkittine]

On September 26st, 2021, all FAA Assurances for the East Hampton Airport - KHTO in Wainscott, Township of East Hampton, expire. A majority of the town board members want to close the airport. Thousands have signed a petition to close it down. The petition was started by "Say No To KHTO".

I am hoping that many will send a letter to the East Hampton Town Board in support of the airport. The more that tell their story of use of the airport to access The Hamptons, especially in season, and how much they spend in lodging, food, entertaining etc., the more they will understand the economic impact this would have on the community as well as it will hurt the general flying public.

Letters can be sent to:

Board of Directors
East Hampton Township
159 Pantigo Road
East Hampton, New York 11937

You can also cc: Kent Feuerring of the East Hampton Community Alliance
P.O. Box 344
Sagaponack, New York 11962
Or E-mail him at n8zw@me.com

Thank you for Reading.

Bob

[rkittine]

Just wanted to update everyone on the situation at KHTO. The "So No to KHTO" group is working tirelessly to get the airport shut down. The township has put out a list of the possible outcomes:
1. - Shut the airport down completely and turn it into park land or other community service land. Considering the value of the land, I doubt that it would become community service land if the airport is totally shut down. Total shut down is currently a real possibility.
2. - Leave the airport operating as it has been since 1939. This happening is very doubtful.
3. - Shut the airport down and then re-open it with a set of very strict operating parameters. This will not satisfy the Say No people.
4. - Shut the airport down and re-open it as a private airport with a strict set of regulation and only usable to aircraft based there or maybe also aircraft owners that are tax payers in East Hampton Town. Some for of this is the most likely option.

On September 11th, The East Hampton Alliance / Pilots Association will be having our annual "Just Plane Fun Day". As it stands now I THINK that landing fees and parking will be waived for the event and know that if anyone lets us know of any War Bird or interesting aircraft, that they might be able to bring, we can for sure get the landing fees and parking waived and either supply fuel at a deep discount or for free depending on what you have.

Although the tower will be in operation, this is Class D airspace so no transponder or ADSb out is required, though a radio is. If there are people that want to attend but do not have any com capability in their plane, I am sure I can arrange for arrival time slots and light gun clearances.

Lots of little airplanes may go a long way to convince the general public that comes to help support us, but at least it will be a day where people that have never been to East Hampton Airport or even those that have can see it and hopefully not bid it a fond fairwell.

Thanks for Reading. Everyone going to Middletown, Ohio, have fun, my heart and mind will be with you.