Up North Pulls Out

Up North Helicopters withdrew its proposal to run helicopter tours out of the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport. The tours, proposed to the airport commission in November 2014, struggled to get support from the commission and met resistance from residents in the area.

The tour contract included a $300 payment to the airport in addition to fuel sales for one year. The same contract was rejected by Grizzly Scenic Tours.

The Ephraim-Gibraltar airport has been criticized for losing money, having been in deficit two of the previous five years. Fuel sales are an important part of the airport’s income in addition to hangar leases, contributions from the community and loans from the Town of Gibraltar and Village of Ephraim.

Without a contract, Up North or any other scenic tour company may still use the airport for commercial tours provided they pay a $43 charter fee each trip. A contract would have waived this charter fee, allowing Up North to run as many tours as demanded for the $300 contract agreement.

Community members voiced their concern about noise and lack of regulation of the tours. “I’m concerned that this type of noise level will greatly affect the sensitive, natural environmental areas throughout Door County, as well as the attitudes of tourists coming to Door County for peace and solitude,” said Maureen Sandstrom-McGrath of Bailey’s Harbor.

Up North, based in Menominee, Mich., has previously given tours out of the Ephraim Gibraltar Airport and the Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay. They have also been involved in helicopter operations for Sister Bay and Baileys Harbor festivals. Pilot Nathan Peters was not available for comment and the purpose for withdrawing the proposal is unclear.

Up North has revised the tours offered on their website, no longer including a tour of Door County. The Menominee River Tour now consists of “views of Door County on the horizon,” according to the website.

The next Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport commission meeting will be held Feb. 19 at 9 am. The commission does not expect further discussion on the helicopter tours now that the proposal has been withdrawn.