JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — As heat begins to build over a proposal to offer helicopter tours of the valley, the man with the plan and the whirlybird is postponing a meeting scheduled today to discuss the venture.
Pilot Tony Chambers, a Hoback resident, is hoping to launch a scenic air tour business via his Wind River Air, LLC. He owns a Robinson 44 four-seat helicopter, which he hangars in Pinedale. He was to have discussed the feasibility of operating out of the Jackson Hole Airport at a board meeting tomorrow but notified airport CEO Jim Elwood he was postponing until February 17, 2020.
“Out of respect for the Town of Jackson and the Jackson Hole community at large, I would like to postpone my original intent to appear on the December 18 JH Airport Board meeting agenda,” Chambers told Elwood and the board. “The town and community have requested more time to close any gaps that remain in my application, and I would like to honor that request.”
Chambers said the February agenda date would give all parties an additional 60 days to consider his application.
Some town councilmembers felt they needed more time to understand the proposal. In addition to town government wanting more time, Chambers also faces stiff opposition from Grand Teton National Park (the airport is located within the national park and flights would take place, partially, in park airspace).
Numerous private citizens have also spoken out against the tours, including former journalist and owner of Flat Creek Ranch, Joe Albright. Albright opposes the plan based on safety concerns. He presented the town with research he conducted on the Robinson R44 in higher elevation environments. He also forwarded his findings to the FAA and NTSB in Washington.
Longtime conservationist Franz Camenzind and his former nonprofit JH Conservation Alliance have also been outspoken about the proposed helitours of Jackson Hole, dusting off a two-decade-old campaign “Heli No!”
“Our slogan then is the same as it is now: Heli No,” the Alliance stated. The Alliance, along with the National Parks Conservation Association, cite negative impacts to wildlife and wilderness character, wildfire risks, safety hazards, and climate pollutions as reasons they stand opposed to helitours.
Chambers has insisted helicopter touring can be done safely and with environmental concerns taken into account. He founded his Wind River Air in 2018 where he provides a variety of helicopter services including scenic, survey, and photo flights, as well as student instruction.
“Look, I’m not going to please every last soul,” Chambers admitted to Buckrail. “But I think a dialogue with the community about routes, altitude concerns, departure time—all this feedback could go toward making a better product. Flying is my passion and I just want to share that with people.”
Public comment directed to town leaders has been decidedly anti-heli.
“Helicopter traffic over these areas would be very disruptive and go against our community’s comprehensive plan, the intent of wilderness designation and also against our national park’s mission,” wrote Destin Peters.
“I, and I do not believe the members of this town who moved here to enjoy the wildlife and wild places within a relatively quiet environment, will not tolerate any amount of helicopter touring. We have all been to wild places ruined by the invasive presence and droning noise of helicopter tours and cannot open the door to one operator that will certainly lead to additional operations in our valley, mountains, and surrounding wild areas,” commented Laura Garrard.
Wilson resident Tim Dykema was even more adamantly against Chambers’ plan.
“I do not wish you well in your endeavor,” he wrote to Chambers. “I hope what you see is that there is no benefit that outweighs the negative impacts such an operation would have on the peace and quiet enjoyed in our neighborhoods, on our trails, in our mountains, and on our rivers. I hope you see that your personal interests and dreams are not in line with those of the community you seek to exploit. If somehow you do begin scenic helicopter flights in the Jackson and Wilson areas, I will do everything I can to diminish your business.
After shooting down a previous helitour applicant nearly 20 years ago, the Jackson Town Council, under the leadership of Mayor Jeanne Jackson, issued a proclamation July 2, 2001 in staunch opposition to helicopter touring in Teton County. At that time, Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, Governor Jim Geringer, and several conservation groups joined the town in standing against helitours by signing on to a resolution.
