East Hampton Airport Restrictions Delayed Three Weeks
East Hampton Town is complying with a federal court judge’s request to delay the implementation of new restrictions on air traffic at the East Hampton Airport.
The restrictions, designed to reduce the nuisance of aircraft noise, were approved April 16 and were set to take effect this week. In light of a court appearance Monday, the town has agreed not to move forward until June 8. By then, federal Judge Joanna Seybert is expected to issue a ruling on an injunction that seeks to block the town’s new airport laws. Should the court rule against the town, East Hampton will not be able to enforce the laws until the injunction is lifted.
The laws prohibit aircraft operations year-round between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., prohibit noisy aircraft year-round between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m., and limit noisy aircraft to a single landing and takeoff each week during the summer. The restrictions do not sit well with the aviation industry, and a lawsuit was filed against the town challenging the East Hampton Town Board’s authority to implement the restrictions.