The FAA has announced that it will extend the rule that requires VFR helicopter traffic transiting Long Island in New York to use the North Shore Route between the Lloyd Harbour VRP and the Orient Point VRP for at least two years. The extension is caused by the continuing uncertainty over the future of East Hampton Town Airport which changed from public use to private prior permission required facility in May. The move is subject to a legal challenge. Because of that, The New York State Supreme Court recently issued a temporary restraining order that requires the airport to continue operations as a public use airport. As a result, the Town of East Hampton has threatened to close the airport entirely if they are not allowed to pursue its plans to make the airport private. In that event, the FAA believes that Long Island Helicopter traffic patterns will be materially altered leading to a re-appraisal of the Heli-route system in Long Island. The regulator believes that the length of legal process is likely to be measured in years and thus has decided to extend the rule establishing the route which was due to expire on 5 August.
