MYRTLE BEACH — A helicopter tour company says it plans to keep operating at Broadway at the Beach while it appeals a county decision that could put it out of business.

Helicopter Adventures, which opened in late May, said it has followed all the proper procedures and should be allowed to operate, saying it is disappointed in Monday’s ruling by Horry County’s Zoning Board of Appeals to overturn Zoning Administrator Rennie Mincey’s approval to allow the company to open.

“We relied upon Ms. Mincey’s opinion before building this business,” Freddie Rick, owner of Helicopter Adventures, said in a written statement. “We worked with the county and city to finalize our plans for the business and obtained their approvals in every respect....At no time during this six-month process did anyone raise the issue that Ms. Mincey had made the wrong decision.”

On Monday, the Zoning Board voted 4-3 to overturn Mincey’s decision, with board members Pam Creech, Bo Ives, Pat Keelan and Pat Lebiedz voting in favor of overturning Mincey’s decision, said Lisa Bourcier, Horry County spokeswoman.

Helicopter Adventures has 30 days to appeal the decision to a judge who would decide whether the Zoning Board’s ruling should stand, said Janet Carter, director of Horry County Planning and Zoning.

“At this point, we’re kind of in a wait-and-see posture,” Carter said.

Rick said the appeal to the board’s “arbitrary” decision would be filed immediately.

Controversy over Helicopter Adventures surfaced shortly after the tour company opened in late May with a ticket booth at Broadway at the Beach and a takeoff and landing spot nearby off 21st Avenue North behind NASCAR SpeedPark.

Some Plantation Point residents complained about noise from the helicopters, and the business changed its flight paths aiming to ease the affect on neighbors.

“Both the FAA and Horry County have found our business to be compliant with all applicable laws,” Rick said.

Contact BRAD DICKERSON at 626-0301.