FIGHT ON THE TARMAC

Hampton turbulence

The tony town of East Hampton has already reportedly shelled out $2.5 million-plus to battle a slew of money-draining lawsuits challenging its plan to privatize its airport — after angering just about all its residents.

Foes range from deeppocketed East End moguls to private pilots, helicopter companies and even the estate of a builder-to-the-stars and his wife who died in a 2018 plane crash, with everyone furious about issues from flying curfews to new fees.

“We just want to sit down with [the town board] . . . . Them being all Democrats, they don’t believe in that,” metal mogul Andy Sabin, one of at least five plaintiffs, sniffed to The Post.

The airport, which has become a much-desired tarmac for the rich and famous, plans to close on May 17 and reopen as a “new” airport on May 19.

The move means it will no longer be run by the Federal Aviation Administration and that the town can make its own rules — and East Hampton plans to do just that.

New rules

The new East Hampton Airport is expected to set a curfew for flights, allow only one flight per aircraft a day, set regulations for the type of aircraft allowed and prioritize privately owned jets and helicopters.

As part of the switch, the town would be able to collect $10 million in federal surplus funds allocated to the “old” airport — but at least a quarter of that dough has already been eaten up by the town’s legal fees battling foes, two sources said.

Local pilot and resident Kathryn Slye told The Post that under the new rules, take-off and landing fees for small, locally based aircraft will be bumped up in some cases from $20 to $300, kneecapping pilots and aviation enthusiasts who can’t afford the hefty increase.

The new regs also are expected to ban planes that use leaded fuel, meaning no piston planes will be allowed to land on the tarmac, Slye said.

Lawyer Randy Mastro, who is representing the helicopter shuttle service Blade in its suit against the town, said that under state law, East Hampton needs to conduct a thorough and public review of the environmental impacts of changing the airport before it goes through with the move. The town board has yet to do that, Mastro said.

“The town is saying, ‘We are going to do what we are going to do and then study it afterwards,’ ” he said.

“That’s not the way New York law works . . . . It’s sophistry,” Mastro said.

East Hampton officials did not return a request for comment from The Post.

Critics of the plan also argue that people won’t stop flying to the chic summer

getaway, even if East Hampton limits the use of its prized tarmac.

And if people can’t fly into the town’s airport, they’ll land in surrounding locations such as Southampton, West Hampton and Mattituck on the North Fork, potentially wreaking havoc in those places, insiders say.