Horry County bans helicopter companies from operating in certain areas

Horry County, S.C. (WPDE) — Horry County Council passed an ordinance Tuesday night that will force Helicopter Adventures off of U.S. 17 Business, near Broadway at the Beach, to shut down or relocate.

The new ordinance only allows new sight-seeing helicopter ride companies to operate at nearby airports, effective immediately.

Helicopter Adventures has operated behind Broadway Grand Prix since 2012.

Now with the county's new ordinance, the company will have about seven and a half years to relocate.

"They currently have a lease," said Lisa Bourcier, spokesperson for Horry County. "They were allowed to operate here, and so we are kind of changing some of the regulations, so it would be fair for them to have that time to finish out their lease and come into compliance."

Bourcier said Helicopter Adventures' property lease expires in 2023.

Council added an amendment in the ordinance Tuesday night to exempt Helicopter Adventures until 2024.

"There was an amendment that was proposed and included in that ordinance which sets a sunset clause for any operators that are currently operating, which means they would have to phase out their business and relocate to an airport by 2024," said Bourcier.

Bourcier said council knows Helicopter Adventures' location has been an issue for people in the area.

She said they've heard complaints for years.

"We have received numerous complaints. Complaints from neighboring communities, businesses with the noise and some of the safety concerns that they have," she said.

Right now, there is one helicopter company that does operate out of the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

Council Chairman Mark Lazarus raised the question at the council meeting, if forcing these companies to the airport would cause a surplus to appear.

A county official assured him that shouldn't be the case, since they will have to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration moving forward.

We reached out to Helicopter Adventures about the ordinance, they said they have no comment on the issue.