Helicopter Company Still Seeks Tours

The UP North Tour helicopter in Sister Bay during Fall Fest. Submitted photo.

The helicopter tours proposed by UP North Helicopters out of the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport have met resistance from the community and the airport commission since being brought to the table last November. At the most recent airport commission meeting in December, the commission voted to table the contract proposed by pilot Nathan Peters of UP North.

The contract consisted of a three-paragraph email outlining the terms on which UP North would operate. It requires UP North to pay $300 per year to the airport in addition to buying fuel from Ephraim-Gibraltar. It was the same contract that was declined by Grizzly Scenic Tours. The commission had questions regarding the number of flights and the potential income for the airport.

Under the current restrictions of the airport, any commercial enterprise can operate out of the airport with the permission. Commission member Don Freix stated that if Peters wants to run helicopter tours out of the airport, he is already free to do so provided he pays a $43 charter fee each trip. The contract between Peters and the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport would waive this fee.

The purpose of the contract is to benefit the airport through annual payment and fuel sales, as well as lighten the administrative and financial load on Peters by allowing him to umbrella the tours under one contract rather than applying for a permit each time he books a tour.

The Town of Gibraltar, Village of Ephraim and their communities have expressed concern in the financial stability of the airport. The airport has run a small deficit in two of the past five years. Despite the fact most small airports struggle to stay in the black, Ephraim-Gibraltar continues to look for ways to increase income and decrease expenses.

“The airport is required to make money,” said Commission Chairman Jon Neville. “It is a business.”

Peters expects 6-8 tours per weekend at the basic tour rate of $850 per hour. Addressing noise concern, Peters stated that any one area would be affected by no more than 20 seconds. UP North practices “fly friendly” initiatives despite the fact that, once in the air, an aircraft does not need to follow any noise regulations.

A contract does not allow the airport to restrict the flight path of Peters during take off, landing or while in public airspace. All flight path planning is done between the pilot and the Federal Aviation Administration and takes into account wind speed and direction as well as other variables while in the air. If a complaint were to be made by someone on the ground, they would need to report the aircraft numbers to the Aviation Division of the Department of Transportation.

The Airport Commission next meets Feb. 19 at 9 am. The commission is expected to remove the contract from the table for further discussion. If the commission approves the contract, it is not effective until it is presented and voted upon by both the Village of Ephraim and the Town of Gibraltar.