New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. (I, D, WF- Sag Harbor) today condemned the decision of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to merely extend the mandatory northern route, as is, for four more years. The rule was set to expire on August 6, 2016.

Thiele, with many other East End elected officials, has consistently supported both mandatory north and south routes that keep helicopters over water as long as possible. The current route is beset with loopholes that permit transits over land and populated areas many miles from the East Hampton Airport at low altitudes.

Thiele explained, “The status quo is not acceptable. The current route has resulted in detrimental impacts to the quality of life across eastern Long Island. We have appealed to the FAA to work with us to find the right balance to permit aviation to coexist with the needs of residents on the ground. However, again they have turned their backs on the very public they are supposed to protect. This is simply the latest chapter in a long history, where not only has the FAA ignored the public, but they have also thwarted legitimate local government home rule authority to manage the airport. Congress must intervene to save the people of eastern Long Island from four more years of assaults on their health and quality of life.”