Aviation leader warns Town actions at East Hampton Airport

Calling it “calculated disregard for aviation safety,” a leading aviation executive is placing East Hampton Town Board on notice that “they are potentially placing lives at risk” by deliberately refusing to issue Notice to Air Missions (known as a NOTAMs) by which pilots are informed of operational changes at East Hampton Airport.

Andrew Schmertz, CEO of Hopscotch Air, an FAA-certificated regional air carrier, stated, “NOTAMs are essential tools pilots use to help mitigate risk and hazards they may face at airports. Despite repeated losses in court, the East Hampton Town Board is still pursuing a strategy that seeks to limit operations at the airport by describing it in FAA records as a `private airport.’“

As a “private airport,” JPX has lacked the ability to issue NOTAMs. That means pilots are left to depend on colleagues to inform them of potentially hazardous conditions at East Hampton Airport or on a problematic automated weather reporting system to advise aircraft regarding potential obstacles or whether they can land at all.

"The aviation community has worked hard to address the Board’s concerns - often at the detriment of the small businesses that rely on the airport - but the Board has repeatedly thrown its support behind the small vocal minority of airport opponents, who wish to restrict or close the airport. It now appears Board Members are willing to sacrifice safety to further their narrow-thinking goals.”

FAA files reveal the threat

A search of FAA records reveal any number of accidents that have occurred at airports around the country when NOTAMs have not been issued.

Schmertz says: “These examples show the threat is real yet avoidable”

One airport in Washington State failed to post a NOTAM regarding runway surveillance cameras and a descending aircraft sustained significant damage to its right wing.. In another instance, a contributing factor in an accident at a private airport in Illinois was determined to be that it could not issue NOTAMs regarding an outage to pilot activated runway lights, resulting in severe damage to a landing plane.

“By refusing to update its FAA records, the Town is voluntarily handicapping- and assuming liability for itself - and creating similar risks when maintenance or other operational issues occur. The potential for disaster is real.”

Since 2016, the courts have consistently ruled against the Town of East Hampton’s attempts to restrict or close the airport. The aviation community has responded with a standing offer to discuss how an out-of-court compromise agreement might be achievable, to balance flight operations and protect the safety of aviators and the quality of life of those who live adjacent to the airport. The Town historically declined to consider such discussions.

Mr. Schmertz also reminded that the Town’s previous actions including the cancellation of federal instrument approach procedures and the adoption of private approach procedures which are difficult to access are simply unacceptable.

Seeking to address concerns

Schmertz concluded, “Many in the aviation community will continue to endorse and support a list of operational procedures submitted by the East End Alliance that would address the issues that have been raised over time. With years of sustained court defeats – at great taxpayer cost - it remains incomprehensible that the Town refuses to commit to explore how best to find common ground that permits East Hampton Airport to fulfill its role as a safe, necessary, and respectful aviation destination.”