Good Morning,
I just looked at the forecast again and Sunday is calling for mostly sunny skies with some clouds, high of 30 degrees and winds light and variable. I AGAIN reached out to the airport management and the company that has the ramp rights and have some information and am waiting for other's to respond. So far I only know the following:
LANDING FEES: - The system at East Hampton is Automated through a Company in Virginia and so land fees will be billed to the registered address of those aircraft that land Sunday. I was trying to get these waived, but they are assessed by the Town of East Hampton, who's relationship, as you have all heard is in flux. SEE FINAL NOTE. They can not even provide a single invoice if the Club is going to cover these fees. I did ask for that. I am trying to confirm that the landing fee for aircraft under 4,500 pounds is still $20.00.
RAMP FEES: - These are charged by Sound Aviation who controls the Ramps, Tie Downs and the Fuel sales. I have asked them if they will waive or reduce the $45.00 charge for a single or if they are going to waive for those buying fuel. I am still waiting for an answer from them. They did respond asking a few questions. There have also been posts that the ramp fee is $50.00 now with only a 50% reduction for a fuel purchase of at least 20 gallons. I am also trying to see what the correct amount is and what I might be able to do about it.
FUEL PRICES: - The fuel price is currently $7.74 per gallon, which includes $1.50 per gallon paid to the Town of East Hampton. I tried to get the "BASED AT EAST HAMPTON", fuel discount, but that did not happen, so if you need fuel and they will not waive the ramp fee, you can get it for a lot less elsewhere.
As far as time goes, there are two restaurants in the area, that are close by and I am sure can handle us. One is across the road from the airport in an indoor Sports Complex. "The Club House" in Wainscott, New York. That would be the easiest. The other is the restaurant at the Poxabouge Pitch and Putt facility on Montauk Highwat in Sagaponack, just a few miles away. I will for sure have my car and will see who else I can get to help shuttle and join us for lunch. The Club House opens at 12:00 Noon on Sundays and the other opens for early breakfast.
As far as time goes. I would think around noon would be best. There may be a place we can meet at the old Executive Terminal of the airport. I will check with the manager of that facility today. At least that would allow being inside and chatting while waiting for rides back and forth to the restuarant.
As soon as I hear from Sound Aviation, I will post again, but I am hoping to set up parking by the Executive Terminal. Although all the tie downs are accounted for, the majority are not in used during the off season and as of yesterday the area was wide open.
ASSUMING WE ARE MEETING AT the EXECUTIVE TERMINAT: You land (probably on 10 or 28 - the longest runway and most commonly used where wind USUALLY favors 28) and need to taxi to get to runway 16/34 - Back Taxi 34 southernly to almost the end and turn right on "G" toward the large hanger, which is the Executive Terminal.
AWOS is still working on 118.075 and though the tower is closed for the winter, its frequency of 125.225 is the advisory frequency for the airport. I will be monitoring there from 11:30 on.
It would again be nice to know who is com\ming, so if you can, please E-mail me at RKittine@aol.com if you are coming, how many people and your type and N Number.
Robert Staab is handling the fineries for this and is expected to be there. So, so far since unfortunately Tom Corcoran is in Florida, I will be there, Sierra N60021 with two more pilolts, Robert and Dan in his Sundowner have advised they will be there.
Tom is going to come visit when he gets back from Florida.
As I pointed out above, I would fill you in on the next part of the saga. Tom wanted to get to see HTO before it closes as he and others are concerned that the cost to land and issues getting permission in the future might make it too complicated.
This morning the East End Aviation Alliance published a letter from the FAA to the Town Board of East Hampton. In it they reiterated that the REOPENING of the facility of the old East Hampton Airport, even being in the same place with the same features, could take as much as 2 years. In addition, the town would have to providing funding for many required studies, the purchase, installation and maintenance of a privately owned AWOS system, reevaluation of any requested Instrument Approaches (they will all be deactivated as of March 1st as well as any involvement of NY ATC with the airport. This might have been a ploy by the Town to be able to turn around and say due to the FAA they now have to permanently close the airport, or JUST maybe it will make them totally reexamine their decision, which there is still time to modify. It is interesting that the FAA has taken the stance, that the current instrument approaches, that are completely safe, usable and being sued, will have to have a new reevaluation and issuance.
If anyone would like a copy of the FAAs letter, E-mail me and I will forward it. It might come in handy for any area in the future who might think of trying to do the same thing.
Looking forward to Sunday.
Cheers
