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WILMINGTON – As Charlie Joyce watched crews chop down one tree after another in his yard on Thursday, he wanted to protect his centuries old oak tree from a similar fate. That prompted his son, Charlie Joyce, Jr., to climb into the tree and sit in protest.

"I hate to see him the way he right now. This tree in particular means so much to him. It means so much to me. I felt like I had to do something," Charlie Joyce, Jr., said

The New Hanover County Airport Authority paid Joyce $44.800 to cut down all the trees in his yard to use make way for new radar system. But Joyce said he did not understand the extent of the agreement.

"All they're leaving is a house sitting out here in the middle of the ocean, like, with no protection whatsoever," he said.

Wilmington Airport Director Jon Rosborough is confused about the issue. He said Joyce signed the contract about a year ago, allowing the airport to chop down trees on his property.

The airport is following FAA regulations. The trees must be cleared for the new instrument radar system to work. Rosborough said clear air space key in allowing pilots to land safely.

"He is only allowed to have obstructions, whether it's buildings light poles, trees or anything else, cannot penetrate an invisible 30-foot approach coming into the airport," Rosborough said.

He told the Joyce family it would be unsafe to leave the tree untouched.

"If it comes to a point where he stays in the tree, then we're going to have to handle this in the court system," Rosborough said.

However, Joyce Jr. does not appear to be giving up so quickly.

"They can cut down all the others, only if we can have this tree," said Joyce Jr.

A judge denied Joyce's attempt to get a temporary restraining order against the airport removing his trees.

The airport said Joyce Jr. could face fines for delaying the project.