The Airport Advisory Committee recommended allowing the new helicopter school to be operated out of the airport. However, an appeal was filed against the recommendation. A public hearing was held during the April 28 Salem City Council meeting. Many residents testified during the meeting; 21 spoke for the appeal and 30 spoke against.

The opposition to the helicopter school seems to be split on two issues -- noise complaints and concern for how Silver State Helicopters had handled public complaints.

In response, Leading Edge has proposed a "Community Interface Procedure." The procedure commits the school to making phone numbers and e-mail addresses of contacts available to the public so they can handle concerns related to their local operations.

Salem Monthly attempted to contact Vice President Travis Warthen, the representative from Leading Edge who is handling the Salem expansion, about the concerns voiced by the public, but he was unavailable to respond to multiple phone call and e-mail inquiries prior to our deadline. However, their proposal to the City included that "their goal is provide excellent service to any who require our services, and remain unheard of from those who do not."

As of our deadline, the City Council is anticipated to postpone all deliberations on this appeal until the June 2 council meeting.