The Sedona-Oak Creek Airport Authority Board of Directors meeting on Monday, Feb. 25, had an unusually long break.

The directors needed to take a call with the organization’s lawyer, which lasted about an hour and delayed discussion on some items on the agenda. 

Most of the old and new business discussion and action decisions took place between 2:30 and 3:10 p.m. — when members of the public were asked to leave the room so the directors could talk to the lawyer in private. 

Individuals who wanted to address the board had to wait to share their concerns. At around 4:30 p.m., Sedona resident Thomas Moore presented two issues, which are more or less related: How the airport’s administration is dealing, or, in his opinion, not dealing with, noise abatement and the process to elect the board. “Time has come to … change how the board is 

installed,” Moore said. 

Even though the airport is in city property, it is owned by Yavapai County and managed by SOCAA under a lease agreement that ends in 2050. 

The county is currently responsible for appointing members of the board. However, Moore said he believes board members should be elected by public vote, as is the case with local school and fire district boards. The reasoning behind this suggestion has to do with how the board relates, and responds, to the community. 

“A board that is elected is also responsive to the community,” he noted. This need for change is directly related to Moore’s other concern: The noise. 

According to him, the airport board hasn’t been responsive to the community about helicopter tour noise abatement, despite numerous complaints. Moore added that the Sedona airport website used to have documents with information about noise mitigation and a Federal Aviation Administration advisory that stated aircraft should fly at 2,000 feet at least. However, these documents aren’t available anymore. 

“Why is that?” Moore asked, before finishing his discourse with a plea. “Fly friendly and fly at 2,000 feet.” 

As stated on the notice of regular meeting shared on the airport’s website, board members did not discuss nor act on any of the matters raised by the public. 

“The Board may direct staff to study the matter or direct that the matter be rescheduled for consideration at a later date,” the notice explains. 

The Sedona-Oak Creek airport, which operates within a Class G airspace, “does not have aircraft restrictions, curfews or a mandatory noise abatement program,” according to a Master Plan prepared in June 2017 and available on its website under the “Administration” tab. 

The Master Plan also notes that the airport has designated traffic pattern altitudes for propeller aircraft [1,173 feet above ground level] and jet aircraft [2,173 feet AGL]. However, helicopters are able to operate at less than these minimums, as long as “the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface.” 

On the other hand, SOCAA has recommended noise abatement procedures for pilots under visual traffic rules at less than 7,500 feet mean sea level, which includes the prohibition of scenic flights below 6,500 feet MSL. Considering the airport’s elevation is 4,830 feet MSL, all scenic flights should be at 1,670 feet above the airport altitude. 

The Master Plan mentions that general noise abatement procedures are on the airport’s website. However, as Moore noted during the meeting, the information is not readily available. 

To find it, users need to download the full document. Among other matters discussed during the meeting were the allocation of $35,000 for a replacement ramp vehicle for the airport and the creation of a formal committee to work on the Oak Creek Water Project. 

The committee, which is now required to have public meetings, will work on ways to approach fire suppression on Airport Mesa, among other subjects. Lastly, an issue was brought to the table by director Jon Davis: SOCAA lacks a document with board policies. Using as example the Sedona Fire District Governing Board, Davis suggested creating a similar document including guidelines, orientation for new members, etc.