A public hearing was held at Jackson Hole, Wyo., on March 17 to address the airport’s intention to ban operations by all Stage 2 aircraft with an mtow of less than 75,000 pounds. If the ban is adopted, willful violations could be punishable by a fine of up to $750 and one year in prison for each violation. The airport has asserted the authority to impose the ban under a provision included in last year’s FAA reauthorization bill, which said the noise-reduction-process requirements of FAR Part 161 did not apply at the airport. Following the meeting last month, the Jackson Hole Airport Board is scheduled to consider the ban at a private meeting on April 21. If adopted at that meeting, the effective date of the ban would be June 21.

The proposal includes a deferment provision for Stage 2 aircraft whose owners submit documentation to the airport director at least one month before the effective date showing that the owner has contracted for, and paid a deposit on, either a Stage 3 hush kit, or a Stage 3 aircraft to replace the Stage 2 aircraft. In those cases, the effective date would be postponed until six months after the submission of that documentation.