Officials Say More Than 100 Safety-Related Incidents Let To Action; Business Fighting Back

After more than two years of legal battles between Horry County, SC and Skydive Myrtle Beach, the county has ordered that the business be closed and its headquarters in a hangar at Grand Strand Airport (KCRE) vacated.

Myrtle Beach Online reports that the FAA sent a 73-page report to the county on October 7 indicating that the county needed to address safety problems with the business or risk losing federal grant money. Randall Fiertz, the FAA’s director of airport compliance and management analysis, wrote that “Unless immediate steps are taken, up to and including closure of the [drop zone], the County will be considered to be in violation.”

Airport officials have documented what they say are more than 100 safety-related incidents involving the business. Those include skydivers landing near taxiing airplanes; near a military helicopter that's rotors were turning; and on a state highway.

Aaron Holly, who has run the business since 2012, said that the business was shut down because "somebody's pissed off at me at the department of airports." He said Skydive Myrtle Beach is run by military and combat vets, has had no injuries, and takes 80-year-old's skydiving "all day long."

The business has established a presence on the "GoFundMe" crowdfunding site to help raise money for its legal expenses.

"The county has taxpayer dollars and unlimited resources to put me out of business," Holly wrote on the description page. "And it is clear that justice only comes if you have money to fight even if it is clear that the government is clearly in the wrong.

"The Horry Co. Dept of Airports are trying to shut us down and take away this amazing tourist activity, which provides revenue to the City, County and surrounding local businesses. They were caught breaking into our hangar and a police report was filed. Shortly after the report, we were given a ultimatum to give Horry Co. 24% of our gross profits. They stated we had broken rules that, in fact had never existed before.

"We then filed a lawsuit. Two  months later the County Attorney went before the County Council and said they need rules quick because they are now in litigation. These rules were then passed illegally in less than a month. The county never enforced these new rules because they knew they were illegal. They, then sent in 211 allegations of safety to the FAA in hopes that they would shut us down. None of these allegations have been investigated, no sworn testimony, or have been presented to our business.

"No authority from the FAA has been presented. The FAA's decision stated if in fact that there is a dangerous situation in Myrtle Beach, the Dept of Airports better take care of it or they will lose their grant money. The airport then came in and shut the business down without any court order. The case is in the court of appeals but we have run out of money for the attorneys to continue. We are almost there and need help to get over this hump. Every victory over local, corrupt government officials is a victory for all. This type of activity is all over the news and must be stopped.

"Hopefully this can be shared around to all of the peoples' lives we have touched and you can help make a difference. Thank you for your support."

FMI: www.gofundme.com/vp77eakw