Says City Doesn't Have Authority To Ban Operations

Leading Edge Aviation has followed through on its intent to file a formal complaint with the FAA, asking for the agency's help to overturn a decision by the Salem, OR City Council to ban the helicopter school's operations at Salem Municipal Airport/McNary Field.

As ANN reported, in June the council voted to deny a license to Leading Edge, claiming the school posed "health, safety and welfare" concerns. The school countered it wasn't within the council's authority to do so... and noted the city was going against a city advisory board recommendation, in an apparent attempt to pander to constituents living near the airport.

Those residents have reveled in the relative quiet since another helo school -- Silver State Helicopters -- closed earlier this year... and they're not eager to have another operation set up, even though SLE is occasionally used by transient helo traffic, including a few Leading Edge students flying from another airport.

Leading Edge said in June it would consider filing the protest with the FAA. Agency spokesman Mike Fergus expressed concern that denial could put federal funding for SLE at risk, noting "from the standpoint it would be a discrimination of access."

In its protest summary, Leading Edge tells the FAA the council's denial "is an attempt to regulate flight operations due to noise levels which they do not have the authority to do," reports the Salem Statesman-Journal.

The city says Leading Edge's compliant to the federal agency was "premature," adding the school is welcome to submit a new application for an operating license, which would include ways the school intends to handle noise concerns.

"We don't feel the action by the council was a violation of FAA rules," said City Manager Linda Norris.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.cityofsalem.net/departments/scdev/airport, www.leadingedgeavn.com/