BY FREDA MIKLIN
STAFF WRITER
When the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable (CACNR) met on February 1, there was hope that unhappy residents who have been living with increased noise and air pollution from planes flying out of Centennial Airport (APA) might get their concerns addressed by the Federal Aviation Administration, whose regional manager was there in person.
The meeting ended after three hours with neither the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) nor APA officials offering a solution to the problem or even saying they had the power to solve the concerns, primarily about intrusive training flights, that have brought citizens to these meetings month after month.
The CACNR, though comprised of many elected officials, as well as staff from cities, counties, and other governmental and quasi-governmental agencies, is strictly a volunteer advisory group.
Mike Fronapfel, executive director and CEO of APA, reported meeting recently with representatives of several APA-based flight schools. Pointing to an incident where one school had conducted a training flight over a residential area between 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., he reported that the school’s representative acknowledged that it was probably not a good idea, but, Fronapfel noted that they were “within their legal rights” to have done so.
Fronapfel also noted that, “Although air traffic control (part of the FAA) gives direction to the aircraft that are in the pattern, it’s not always giving absolute direction…”
Greenwood Village City Council Member Donna Johnston, a member of CACNR, said, “The residents are mad, I’m mad, because it’s maddening to have as many as two flight school planes or more at a time buzzing over your house for hours on end… If the FAA can make one change, it can make another–one that not only ensures safety in the sky, but one that ensures safety and sanity for those of us on the ground…We can expect this type of meeting to be the new normal until the problem is resolved. My recommendation tonight is that the FAA take decisive action, with a date certain, to stop the incessant flight school traffic overhead.”
Michael Valencia, FAA Regional Air Traffic Manager, acknowledged that the mid-air collision that occurred on May 12, 2021 caused the FAA to review its procedures “in light of its number-one goal,” which “is to prevent collision.” The result, he said, was that, “We determined that we really needed to tighten up our ship…to increase positive control to prevent a collision…We directed controllers to get better at it,” he reported.
Valencia reminded everyone that Denver International Airport (DEN), as well as APA, Rocky Mountain Airport, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo “each do over 1,000 operations a day.”
Next, Joseph Bert of the FAA’s Northwest Mountain Region, presented a report entitled, “Centennial Airport Traffic Pattern Briefing.” It found that “the primary and overriding causal factor for the increase in the visual flight pattern footprint at APA is simply increased aircraft …”
More significantly, it found that although the total number of aircraft flights at APA was up 24% between 2019 and 2022, the number of aircraft flights over Greenwood Village between 2019 and 2022 was up 75%. He added that each flight was counted only once, regardless of the number of touch-and-go operations that flight, if it were for training purposes, might have done.
When Johnston asked again what the FAA’s solution to GV residents’ concerns was, Valencia punted the question to Justin Biassou, FAA community engagement officer, who said, “Volume is certainly something that has to be dealt with on the source. We want to make sure that we’re working with you as the community to understand that there are air traffic control questions and that we are able to be here to answer all of those for you… You have an additional amount of traffic that leads to an extended downwind. To that end, we as the FAA are service providers and we want to be able to ensure that we have safe separation of aircraft at all times… I believe that we are operating safely and efficiently in that area… There haven’t been any changes since the 2021 midair (collision) other than the recognition that we have an extended downwind due to increased traffic and demand at the airport.” He emphasized that the FAA had shared “openly and honestly” with the community in response to questions it had received.
Johnston said that she recalled “someone telling me that after the midair crash, that there were nine planes in rotation—these are flight schools—and that was reduced to maybe four or five, and that was an FAA decision. So, why wouldn’t you be able to reduce the amount of traffic further?”
Bert disagreed with Johnston’s premise, explaining, “I did not find anything that regulated the amount of aircraft in the pattern in our research. As far as I know, we don’t do that anywhere.” CACNR Chair Brad Pierce spelled it out simply, “The FAA is not going to limit the number of planes in the pattern.”
Biassou also pointed out that, “We have strict constraints that are given to us by Congress and our mandate is to ensure safe operations…We know that the airport receives grant funding from the federal government… That would also make it difficult for the airport to restrict those, as well. We want to make sure that we share with you those limitations…to demonstrate the constraints of our respective organizations to restrict traffic…as long as they are safely operating.”
Despite being asked by multiple people multiple times whether they had made a change to the air traffic patterns after the midair collision in 2021, FAA representatives repeatedly denied having done so.
Fronapfel disagreed with the FAA that there had been a significant increase in the volume of flights at APA between 2019 and 2022 and offered statistics that he said demonstrated that the volume of flights had decreased, not increased, then added, “We have a lot more analysis we want to do on our end, and work with the FAA on trying to really zero in on this.”
As Chair Pierce opened the public comment portion of the meeting, new Arapahoe County Commissioner Jessica Campbell-Swanson asked if she could have the privilege, as an elected official, to ask a question or two that had been unaddressed thus far. She addressed herself to Valencia, saying, “Pinning down the cause of the increased flight pattern north of Arapahoe is an important aspect of this conversation…I believe in your sincerity and the commitment that you have to your job and your safety, but I wonder if there might have been a slight overcorrection in the training updates that have been communicated to the controllers…The airport believes it was a change in the landing sequencing pattern between a parallel landing pattern to a staggered landing pattern. You’re pointing to the airport, saying it’s more flights in the pattern…We have to have somebody take ownership at one point…In that retraining, is there a way to back off of that a little bit?”
When Biassou responded to Chair Pierce, rather than Campbell-Swanson, that, “It was our understanding that we were to be receiving the public comment, as opposed to a back and forth,” and that the FAA would respond to it at a future date, Campbell- Swanson interjected, “I was given permission to ask a question as a matter of privilege as an elected official.” Chair Pierce answered Campbell-Swanson, “As a former elected official myself, I’m sure all the elected officials up here (on the CACNR) have been subject to public comment,” and told her that the FAA would take the question under advisement. GV Council Member Johnston offered to say that Campbell-Swanson’s question had come from her as a member of the CACNR, in order to get an instant response from the FAA, but Pierce moved on to public comment.
The focus of the meeting returned to the primary concern of most people present, “What can be done by the FAA to limit the number of aircraft?” The answer given was that the flight schools would have to voluntarily agree to limit the number of aircraft. Again, the FAA made its position clear, repeating, “There’s nothing we can do on our end. We are in the business of providing a service, not policing that kind of stuff.”
Members of the public who commented included over a dozen area residents, most of whom had spoken at previous meetings about how difficult it has been to live with the continuous activity of training flights over their neighborhood. Statements made included, “For the FAA to say there may not be a solution is infuriating,” “I feel like I’m being gaslighted,” “Most of the questions asked here are being ducked,” “I’m outraged,” “Why are these flight schools so privileged?” “You’re going to have a class action suit,” and, “I’m in therapy, our lives have become unlivable.”
As the meeting came to a close, Valencia addressed the room, saying, “I’m Michael and I’m from the FAA. I’m smarter for coming here. I know the stakes are extremely high. I’m an optimist and I know there’s a solution here. I want to thank you for letting me spend some time with you. I’m here and I’m listening.”
The Villager asked GV Mayor George Lantz, Centennial Council Member Candace Moon, Campbell-Swanson, GV Council Member Johnston, Arapahoe County Commissioner Campbell-Swanson, and HD37 Rep. Ruby Dickson, all of whom were at the meeting, their reaction to what they heard. We received responses from Lantz, Johnston, and Moon as of press time.
Mayor Lantz told us, “I am very concerned about the FAA’s response or lack of response to citizens’ valid concerns over a 75% increase in flights over Greenwood Village. With one collision in 16 million flights (with fortunately no lives lost) the health risks and negative impact to residents associated with heavy flight traffic over both schools and homes must be considered. We are asking the FAA to return the flight patterns to those existing prior to 2021.”
Johnston said, “The FAA flat out lied and everyone knows it. They made a change to the air traffic and refuse to admit it. It was a bad decision that’s left thousands of residents of Arapahoe County with increased noise and lead pollution. They call themselves public servants and ask the public to contact them with noise complaints, but it’s a farce. They’ve made it clear their job is solely to protect the pilots and people in the air, residents be damned.”
Moon responded, “While there are some difficult issues being brought by the public, the Roundtable is serving its purpose by allowing the public a forum to be heard and learn more about the airport operations as well as the role the federal government plays in regulating air traffic. The Centennial Airport has been advocating for a modified flight path to the FAA on the public’s behalf to mitigate noise concerns related to flight patterns as well as supporting the transition to unleaded aviation fuel…It appears the flight training operators are looking internally at other changes they can make to improve the situation.”
fmiklin.villager@gmail.com