Business news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Vermont residents oppose airstrip sought by aviation chief for home commutes
Kyle Clark, chief executive of electric-aircraft maker Beta Technologies, is seeking to use an airstrip built on his property in Lincoln, Vermont, to fly between home and work. The proposal has prompted years of opposition from residents concerned about noise, safety and disruption to the rural town, alongside disputes over whether the required approvals were properly obtained.
Clark, 46, moved into the 8,195-square-foot home with his family in 2021 and received a permit for the airstrip in March 2022. Opponents appealed locally, but Clark has prevailed in proceedings involving the Federal Aviation Administration, state court and Vermont’s Transportation Board, according to the article. He currently drives about 45 minutes to a separate property in Charlotte, which he bought for about $14 million and where he can fly small aircraft to the company’s headquarters.
In short
- A Vermont airstrip dispute has continued for years.
- Residents cite noise and safety concerns.
- Clark says he followed the approval process.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Clark can argue that he has secured the necessary approvals through several proceedings, and that using a permitted airstrip to travel between home and work is a legitimate private use. For an aviation company chief, flying could also be a practical way to reach the workplace and demonstrate the aircraft his business develops.
The case against
Residents can argue that an airstrip on a rural property affects neighbours who did not choose the added noise, safety risks and disruption, so its impacts deserve close scrutiny. They may also question whether the approvals were properly obtained and contend that procedural safeguards matter even when an applicant has prevailed in appeals.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Bucolic Vermont town at war over aviation CEO’s demand to build personal airstrip at his $3.5m compound”.