History of the Heli No campaign
This isn’t the first time this issue has come up. Learn some history of scenic heli tours and our efforts to stop them in the timeline below.
Letters & Reports
- Alliance joint letter to the Airport Board: require COVID-19 preparedness and a bond against future Search & Rescue and firefighting costs
- Alliance joint letter to the Airport Board: defer heli tour meeting until after the pandemic
- Airport Board to host special meeting for heli tours and how to comment
- Airport Board announces heli tours are on the agenda and how to comment
- Press release from Jackson Hole Airport Board reacting to FAA confirmation
- FAA letter to the Airport Board reaffirming Wind River Air’s rights
- FAA letter to the county reaffirming Wind River Air’s rights
- Alliance joint letter to the FAA requesting they revoke Wind River Air’s authorization
- Jackson Hole Airport Board letter to the FAA requesting that they reconsider approving Wind River Air’s proposal
- Joe Albright’s letter to the FAA & NTSB – Joe Albright, a full-time Teton County resident, Alliance member, and former investigative journalist, researched and wrote the following letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding safety issues with scenic heli tours and the Robinson 44.
- Joe Albright & Marcia Kunstel’s 2001 safety & environmental concerns report – His recent letter updates the many safety and environmental concerns highlighted in this report, which he wrote in partnership with Marcia Kunstel 20 years ago when scenic heli tours were proposed by Vortex Aviation.
- National Park Service letter to Wind River Air opposing this scenic heli tour proposal
- Jackson Town Council letter to the Airport Board stating that scenic heli tours runs counter to the Comp Plan and calling for further safety and environmental impact studies
- Teton County Commission letter to the Airport Board echoing the town’s concerns
News Articles & Opinion Pieces
- “Chopper flies the Tetons, and it’s totally legal” – Jackson Hole Daily 6.5.20
- “Heli Go: Scenic flights out of JH Airport approved for heli-tour operator” – Buckrail 4.25.20
- “Heli-tours twirl forward despite outcry” – Jackson Hole News & Guide 4.24.20
- “Who can stop scenic helicopter tours?” – Guest shot: Jackson Hole News & Guide 4.22.20
- “Tech failure grounds heli tours” – Jackson Hole News & Guide 4.17.20
- “We’re still saying ‘Heli-no'” – Guest shot: Jackson Hole News & Guide 3.11.20
- “Everyone safe after helicopter accident at Denali National Park glacier, officials say” – Anchorage Daily News 2.22.20
- “Scenic chopper pilot wants to fly by spring” – Jackson Hole News & Guide 2.19.20
- “FAA rules Jackson Hole Airport must allow scenic heli tours” – Jackson Hole News & Guide 2.14.20
- “Airport to FAA: Reconsider scenic tour permit” – Jackson Hole News & Guide 1.5.20
- “Retired Teton rangers, superintendent leery of heli tours” – Jackson Hole News & Guide 12.18.19
- “Halt heli tours over Jackson Hole” – Editorial – the Jackson Hole News & Guide 12.18.19
- “Buzzing the Hole: Heli tour operator faces turbulence” – Buckrail article 12.17.19
- Letter to the editor from Sharon Mader at the National Parks Conservation Association 12.11.19
- Guest shot from Franz Camenzind – 12.11.19
- Guest shot from the Airport Board – 12.11.19
- “With the Robinson R44’s safety issues, the FAA has taken a more hands-off approach” – LA Times 11.18.18
- “Danger spins from the sky” – LA Times 11.18.18
- “Whirlybird tours fly back onto Jackson Hole radar” – Jackson Hole News & Guide 10.30.19
Other Resources
- “Safe and Quiet Skies Act of 2019” federal legislation proposal
- Video from the Airport Board’s open house 12.16.19
- Heli tour info sheet from the Airport Board