Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined Colorado U.S. Representative Jason Crow in pressing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to consider community concerns about noise complaints near the Centennial Airport. In a letter to Acting Administrator Billy Nolen, the Members requested that the FAA do more to engage with the community on their concerns and engage in a good-faith discussion about potentially changing the flight pattern at Centennial.
“We encourage in-person attendance, to the greatest extent possible, by an FAA representative at each of the monthly meetings to engage with community members on their concerns and to hear from Centennial Airport officials on areas where there is a need for greater coordination and support,” wrote the members.
After two small planes collided on May 12, 2021, over Cherry Creek State Park while attempting to land at Centennial Airport, the FAA shifted the air traffic pattern for the area without consulting the airport or the community. That change has resulted in increased traffic over residential areas.
They continued: “A fundamental piece of this engagement should be a good faith discussion on revisiting changes made by the FAA to the air traffic pattern. We also encourage the FAA to commit to a written response to the community’s concerns.”
Residents have relayed concerns related to this traffic pattern change, including those from noise pollution and potential lead pollution due to the leaded fuel used by single-engine planes. Other concerns include an increase in flight school flights, specifically noise attributable to repeated touch-and-go operations, and anticipated growth in flights out of this airport.
The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
Dear Acting Administrator Billy Nolen,
We write to you today regarding the Centennial Airport in Arapahoe County, Colorado and several issues raised by Centennial Airport’s Executive Director and CEO Mike Fronapfel and residents living within noise-affected communities.
As you know, two small planes collided on May 12, 2021, over Cherry Creek State Park while attempting to land at Centennial Airport. In response, the FAA shifted the air traffic pattern for the area without consulting the airport or the community, resulting in increased traffic over residential areas.
Residents have relayed concerns related to this traffic pattern change, including those from noise pollution and potential lead pollution due to the leaded fuel used by single-engine planes. Other concerns include an increase in flight school flights, specifically noise attributable to repeated touch-and-go operations, and anticipated growth in flights out of this airport.
The Centennial Airport regularly meets with the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable (CACNR) and residents of noise-affected communities. Centennial Airport and the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority Board of Commissioners have engaged with local FAA representatives by phone, email, and an official letter in recent months. This outreach includes the FAA’s Denver District General Manager and the Regional Administrator for the FAA Office of the Northwest Mountain Region. At this time, they are still awaiting an official response to their letter.
We appreciate the FAA’s Denver District General Manager’s recent virtual attendance at the December 7, 2022, CACNR meeting. We encourage in-person attendance, to the greatest extent possible, by an FAA representative at each of the monthly meetings to engage with community members on their concerns and to hear from Centennial Airport officials on areas where there is a need for greater coordination and support. A fundamental piece of this engagement should be a good faith discussion on revisiting changes made by the FAA to the air traffic pattern. We also encourage the FAA to commit to a written response to the community’s concerns.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
