Safety Issues Cited, But Company Owner NIMBYs Are The Problem

The Airport Authority Board and Management In Lewiston, ID has issued an order to Lohman Helicopter to cease operations as of January 10th, according to local media reports.

The order came from a closed-door meeting of the board, according to television station KLEW.

The disagreement stems back to last year. At a city council meeting in November, Lohman Helicopter owner Morgan Lohman was looking to develop a 30,000 square foot hangar at Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport. He said he has already invested several hundred thousand dollars in his business at the airport, and was intending to do more. But local residents objected to the noise from the helicopters taking off and landing in front of his existing business, and he was ordered to stop that activity.

The airport authority said there were safety concerns about the aircraft taking off and landing hear the existing business, but Lohman said it was just that the neighbors didn't want him there. "If we can't work with the airport on the small issues then we're certainly not going to invest several million dollars on the big issue," he said at the November meeting.

The argument did not carry the day, and he's been ordered by the airport board to shut down as of Saturday.

FMI: http://golws.com/