fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Movie Night Gift Subscription
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Log In
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Kingston-Ulster airport use comes into question by local residents

by Crispin Kott
September 8, 2021
in Politics & Government
1
Kingston-Ulster Airport is sold

A public hearing on changes at the Kingston-Ulster Airport at 1161 Flatbush Road in the town of Ulster in late August raised concerns from a pair of local residents about an increase in air traffic, particularly helicopters.  “This was originally an airport for general aviation,” said area resident Stewart Dean. “It’s turning into an airport for heavy commercial use.” 

The public hearing, held during an Ulster Town Board meeting on Thursday, August 18, focused on a recently completed helipad at the airport, which saw its ownership transfer to an investment group led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt last month.

Ulster Town Supervisor James E. Quigley III stressed that the public hearing was narrow in scope. “It should be noted that this is a parcel separate and distinct from the existing airport parcel, which has been in existence for many, many years prior to zoning,” Quigley said. “This public hearing tonight does not affect the operations of the airport, but merely the operation of the adjacent property where a barn was built under a building permit for the storage of helicopters, which therefore constitutes aviation use under the zoning code and requires a special use permit.”

According to Todd Coggeshall, manager of the airport, the heliport and helicopter storage had already passed muster with the Federal Aviation Administration. “The FAA has visited the site and approved it for aviation use, including giving a letter of determination,” he said. “So the facility is ready for use in the eyes of the FAA. And we come before the town board to seek the special permit, uh, to close the loop and cross the T’s and dot the I’s, so to speak.”

But Dean said that noise primarily from helicopters can cause a disturbance for nearby residents. 

“Are there any limitations on the size and weight of helicopters and…fixed-wing aircraft?” Dean asked. “That airport was built with our tax dollars. It used to have a very shoddy runway, and you could look down it and it was like a rollercoaster…And now these good people are looking to make a dollar and enjoy their particular passion. But I think there should be limits put to it, [so] that there might be scheduling and noise limitations on how the airport can be used.”

Quigley said that the runway and associated infrastructure had met with FAA design standards for fixed-wing aircraft in Airplane Design Groups 1 (wingspan of less than 49 feet, such as a Cessna 172 Skyhawk) and 2 (wingspan of less than 79 feet, like a Beechcraft King Air or a Cessna Caravan). “Helicopters as well as airplanes are allowed to use the airport based upon their maximum gross weight, not to exceed 12,500 pounds per wheel,” Quigley added. 

Coggeshall said that the helipad and helicopter storage barn are for private use by “light helicopters” and include a Bell 429, an A-Star (Airbus AS350), a Robinson R44 and a Hughes OH-6, “which is a notoriously quiet aircraft…we’re not talking about hangaring (Sikorsky) UH-60 (Black Hawk) aircraft, which frequently visit the public use side of the airport. Basically the tenants are the owners of these light aircraft and they will be the ones that are using them.”

Coggeshall added that State Police and Army National Guard helicopters occasionally perform “touch-and-go” landings (“maybe once or twice over the past six months”), but use the main runway at the airport, not the helipad. 

Tags: members
Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher
Previous Post

Woodstock working group has ideas for former funeral home property

Next Post

Rock City Road property could use Woodstock’s help

Crispin Kott

Crispin Kott was born in Chicago, raised in New York and has called everywhere from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Atlanta home. A music historian and failed drummer, he’s written for numerous print and online publications and has shared with his son Ian and daughter Marguerite a love of reading, writing and record collecting.

 Crispin Kott is the co-author of the Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to New York City (Globe Pequot Press, June 2018), the Little Book of Rock and Roll Wisdom (Lyons Press, October 2018), and the Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area (Globe Pequot Press, May 2021).

Related Posts

Ulster collected more sales tax in 2020 than 2019
Politics & Government

Internal auditor brought on to oversee county’s financial affairs

March 25, 2023
New York State Public Service Commission opens investigation into Central Hudson
Politics & Government

Central Hudson’s estimated usage billing on the chopping block

March 25, 2023
Saugerties committee prepares to deliver police reform recommendations
Politics & Government

With focus on transparency, Saugerties police prepare for assessment

March 22, 2023
Unwarranted video surveillance: Town of Ulster weighs security and privacy concerns
Community

Unwarranted video surveillance: Town of Ulster weighs security and privacy concerns

March 22, 2023
Lazy River special zoning gets neg dec from Gardiner Planning Board
Politics & Government

After many concessions, Lazy River gets the nod in Gardiner

March 22, 2023
Saugerties village saves $30k on insurance
Politics & Government

Newcomer wins seat on the Saugerties Village Board 

March 23, 2023
Next Post
Rock City Road property could use Woodstock’s help

Rock City Road property could use Woodstock’s help

Please login to join discussion

Trending News

  • Missing hiker found dead at Mohonk Preserve 8.2k views
  • Tinkerers rally to save embattled P&T Surplus in Kingston 6.7k views
  • Dead body discovered near Kingston park 1k views
  • Newcomer wins seat on the Saugerties Village Board  880 views
  • Unwarranted video surveillance: Town of Ulster weighs security and privacy concerns 826 views
  • After many concessions, Lazy River gets the nod in Gardiner 675 views

Weather

Kingston
◉
30°
Clear
6:47 am7:15 pm EDT
Feels like: 30°F
Wind: 1mph SSE
Humidity: 78%
Pressure: 30.08"Hg
UV index: 0
TueWedThu
50/28°F
55/27°F
45/27°F
Weather forecast Kingston, New York ▸

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

×
You have free article(s) remaining. Subscribe for unlimited access.
View Subscription Offers Sign In
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Sign up for Free Newsletter
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Movie Night Gift Subscription

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Featured Events
      • Art
      • Books
      • Kids
      • Lifestyle & Wellness
      • Food & Drink
      • Music
      • Nature
      • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Help Wanted
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Podcast
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing