Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport officials have released updated noise abatement procedures to lessen the impact of aircraft activity on nearby neighborhoods.
Airport officials said they made the decision in response to community concerns about recovery in-flight operations.
The airport receives federal funds through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program, and therefore is prevented from adopting measures that would restrict aircraft operations or discriminate against aeronautical-related businesses on the field.
“With these community concerns in mind, airport tenants and airport staff worked together to develop voluntary noise abatement procedures that encourage arriving and departing pilots to take measures that may reduce noise without compromising safety,” according to a release from the airport.
Some of the new procedures include pilots flying as high as possible before departing the airport perimeter, avoiding low approaches and flying over major road corridors and open space where able. One change the airport highlighted is a voluntary evening curfew from the flight schools beginning at 10 p.m., unless a pilot must operate after this to stay current with federal regulations regarding skill-sets, or for training requirements.
Airport Director Paul Anslow said he recognizes the need to balance airport recovery and growth with the impacts on surrounding communities.
“Aviation activity rises and falls with the economy. With the thriving local economy we have here in the Denver area, RMMA has seen increasing investment and activity since the recession of 2007/2008,” Anslow said. “We have been grateful to the airport stakeholders who have stepped up to help develop these voluntary noise mitigation procedures, and we will continue to work to address concerns over aviation activity while ensuring (the airport) remains an economic contributor to the region.”
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport operations have recovered to “pre-recession” levels, he said, with the airport experiencing more than 170,000 operations in 2018. Before that, the last peak occurred in 2002 with more than 188,000 operations.
A strong demand for career pilots and corporate charters has fueled this recovery.
Pilots will be notified about the noise abatement procedures by signs, which were posted at entrances onto the airfield Dec. 5, at quarterly briefings with flight schools and instructors, and through semi-annual tenant briefings. Airport officials also will publish a brochure outlining the procedures.
The airport would like to remind pilots and local community members that federal regulations and air traffic control directions will continue to take precedence over voluntary noise abatement procedures, as will safety of flight. The airport is unable to enforce any type of measures for pilots.
The Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport is one of the busiest airport in Colorado and generates more than 2,500 jobs and $460 million in economic output. The public-use, federally supported airport operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“In terms of public engagement, we’ve had some community meetings held here with the town of Superior and city of Louisville over the last year,” said Ben Miller, airport development coordinator.
Superior and Louisville engaged with a noise consultant to work on their behalf, a group that in turn provided input to a noise task force developed by airport officials. Members of that task force, including pilots and air traffic control personnel, acted as experts in advising what was practical and feasible in terms of noise abatement procedures. More complaints were reported during summer months when pilots try to get their flights completed earlier in the day because aircraft performance is affected by the heat.
Overall the process took approximately 18 months.
