The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) expressed disappointment with a recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decision that allows the town of East Hampton, NY to use airport funds to pay for legal fees stemming from its unsuccessful effort to impose access restrictions at East Hampton Airport (HTO).
NBAA, in an appeal to the FAA of an administrative decision released in 2018, had maintained – and continues to maintain – that the town’s use of airport revenue to pay for its legal fees is contrary to agency precedent, is bad policy, and is at odds with congressional instructions. On July 23, 2020, the FAA released a final decision which found this misappropriation of funds by the town of East Hampton to be permissible.