PORTLAND (AP) – Neighbors to the Wiscasset Municipal Airport have accused airport operators of allowing an unprecedented number of landings and takeoffs, robbing the neighborhood its greatest appeal – peace and quiet.

Raoul Hennin, who eight years ago built a home nearby, has circulated a letter for signatures that has since been sent to President Bush and Gov. John Baldacci.

“Airplane landings and takeoffs have increased in volume, frequency, repetition and duration,” Hennin wrote. “There has been a marked increase in night traffic as well.”

Between 40 and 50 airplanes are based at the airport, which was opened in 1961. With no control tower, pilots fly straight until reaching an altitude of 1,000 feet. The procedure prevents planes from flying over a nearby campground.

In 2002, more than 7,600 takeoffs or landings were recorded at the airport, according to Wicked Good Aviation, which leases the airport space. In 2003, the number of takeoffs and landings increased to 8,700 – a 14 percent increase.

Michael Muchmore and Ann Walko of Wicked Good Aviation say the airport’s growth is not excessive.

“What we’ve seen here is orderly growth, not an explosion of growth. It parallels what we are seeing happening throughout the midcoast region,” Muchmore said.

But Dickey and Jean Brigance, who have lived on land near the airport for more than 20 years, said the neighborhood was there long before an airport. They would like to impose a 9 p.m. curfew on landings and takeoffs and would like to see the airport take steps to further reduce noise.

While airport officials say there is increasing pressure to provide services to a larger region, Hennin has no intention of backing off his demands to reduce the airport’s activity.

“They are taking something that once belonged to us, the rural peaceful environment that was once one of the hallmarks of this town,” Hennin said.