The litigation against mandatory curfews at East Hampton Airport (KHTO) in New York is drawing more support. NBAA joined the Friends of East Hampton Airport and local operators in filing a brief February 3 seeking to overturn a U.S. District Court decision that let stand locally imposed hours of operation curfews based on aircraft noise levels. Now GAMA is seeking permission to file an amicus brief in support of that Second Circuit challenge. 

GAMA is arguing that the district court erred when it ruled that the Town of East Hampton need not comply with the federal Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA) requirements to seek FAA approval before enacting the noise restrictions. “By its plain language, ANCA clearly establishes a national aviation noise policy mandatory for all public-use airports, regardless of federal aviation grant status,” GAMA wrote. The district court found that ANCA serves only “to encourage” compliance through eligibility for grant and passenger facility charge restrictions.