Helicopter Tour Proposal Submitted

The Ephraim Gibraltar Airport Commission received a proposal from pilot Nathan Peters of Up North Helicopters that outlines the specifications for the planned tours in 2015. Peters now hopes to have the tours up and running by the summer of 2015, pending approval by the municipalities.

While the commission handles the initial stages of the proposal, they must get the operation approved by both the Village of Ephraim and the Town of Gibraltar. Peters is working with the commission to come up with a plan to best serve the peninsula while minimizing the concerns of the public. The commission will then take that plan to the two municipalities to seek approval.

Among the primary concerns, noise pollution reigns supreme. “While one is enjoying and contemplating the quiet natural beauties of the county, your reverie and enjoyment should not be interrupted by the ‘harrumph, harrumph’ of a barnstorming helicopter,” wrote Hank Whipple of Baileys Harbor in a recent letter to the editor.

Up North Helicopters is based in Menominee, Mich., and previously ran helicopter tours out of the Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay. On its website, Up North claims to address noise abatement with their pilots trained in Fly Friendly Initiatives. “If noise or frequency of fly-overs are an issue, our pilots can adjust flight paths to accommodate sensitive areas,” the website reads.

Yet several residents feel as though the entire peninsula is a sensitive area. “There is no way that a helicopter tour company can fly tours over these natural areas without ruining it for everyone else,” wrote Fred Middleton of Baileys Harbor in another letter to the editor.

With the tours based out of the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport, Peninsula State Park hails as a main natural attraction in the area. When operating out of Sturgeon Bay, Up North would visit the park on their longest tour. Now planning to base out of Ephraim-Gibraltar, they may need to receive a commercial use permit from the state park in order to run tours that focus on the park. Commercial use permits are required whenever the park is being used to turn a profit, such as photography or kayaking tours.

Even with several pieces of the puzzle still unclear, Up North has already added Door County Helicopter Tours to its website, stating the flights will be, “departing from the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport.” The web page includes pricing and descriptions for the various tours offered.

Peters submitted a proposal to the airport commission but he admits, “that it’s really up to them.” The commission may make changes to the proposal before bringing it in front of Ephraim and Gibraltar for final approval.