Battle Lines Drawn

If they did not know already, long-suffering residents of the East End, frustrated by helicopter noise, now truly know who their friends are — and who they are not.

East Hampton Town officials could find out soon if the set of new restrictions they adopted on the noisiest aircraft will go into effect before the summer season. A hearing is expected today in United States District Court in Central Islip in which opponents of the rules hope a judge will impose a restraining order and call for a trial. If the consortium of commercial interests, backed by the Federal Aviation Administration, prevails, it could be months, if not years, before anyone knows if the restrictions will be upheld.

If nothing else, the East Hampton Town Board’s move in imposing curfews and weekly trip limits on the louder classes of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft finally made the battle lines clear. On one side are all the elected municipal governments of the East End, the area’s Congressional delegation, and thousands of residents, all hoping for quieter skies. Opposing them are the National Business Aviation Association, the Analar Corporation, Associated Aircraft Group, Heliflite Shares, Liberty Helicopters, Eleventh Street Aviation, Helicopter Association International, Sound Aircraft Services, and, it seems, the F.A.A.

It should also be noted that, publicly at least, not a word has been heard from the supposedly put-upon passengers who would have to find other ways to get to the South Fork. So far the voices that have been loudest are the companies that are unwilling to invest in quieter, if perhaps more costly, aircraft to comply with what are reasonable solutions to a real noise crisis.

East Hampton Town officials must stand tough as the fight drags on.