A proposal to expand private helicopter landings in Fayette County is moving through the city council. Council member Russ Hensley says the new regulation would allow one landing per day, per month, instead of three landings a month. “It’s not gonna start raining helicopters by adjusting this to let it properly function,” said Hensley.
Hensley says the current regulation discourages businesses from building helipads. He says the helipads are controlled by the state and airspace by the Federal Aviation Administration. The item received its first reading Tuesday night. “If we start putting these in lots of business and industrial districts, they could be next to residential areas,” said Gibbs.
Helicopter pilot Chet Lott told council committee members the change would not mean a surge in choppers over neighborhoods. “You can’t just fly in and land anywhere,” Lott explained. “That’s the main point I wanted to make, cause you are under air traffic control.”
Council will consider final approval of the helicopter matter in January.?
