Ongoing Safety Consultation And Legal Dispute At Vance Brand Municipal Airport: Latest Updates

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

In February, the City of Longmont hired QUADREX Aviation, LLC to confer with Vance Brand Municipal Airport about Safety Risk Management. These types of reviews are done routinely at small airports across the country, but this is the first time in Vance Brand’s over 70-year history that an expert review has been conducted.

People across the foothills region have enjoyed usage of the airport since 1945, and its roots run deep in the Longmont community. Front range aviators consistently utilize it, even in the middle of a 20-year national declining trend in local aviation.

The city has worked to ensure the airport is maintained properly for future generations of Front Range residents to enjoy. Marijke Unger, the city-wide communications manager for the City of Longmont, said, “The consultant will lend independent and objective expertise to inform possible adjustments to the public use area, as well as all other operational areas of the airport for effective, efficient and safe aviation operations now and for the future.”

The reasons cited for the hiring were "...concerns raised by Mile Hi Skydiving, independent skydivers, airport tenants, the Longmont aviation community, residents..."

The designated landing zones for Mile Hi skydivers at Vance Brand Municipal Airport have been at the center of controversy over the past years. A 2017 update to Mile Hi’s land-use fee structure, as well as the implementation of a video monitoring system for the designated skydiving landing zones, has prompted Mile Hi to recently file a lawsuit against Longmont and a complaint with the FAA.

Mile Hi is alleging that the city reduced the overall amount of land designated for landing zones, and that the installation of the camera system has been unfair to their business.

Longmont’s Public Information Officer, Rigo Leal, said, “The cameras were intended to monitor all the operational areas of the airport, which includes most of the property from the aircraft ramp to the south. One camera points to the west end of the runway, one towards the east end of the runway, and one towards midfield.”

On Thursday, March 28th, the City of Longmont filed a motion to dismiss Mile-Hi’s complaint. The city website states that, “Longmont vigorously disputes all of the legal conclusions asserted in the complaint.”

After denying Mile Hi's motion to enter a temporary restraining order against the city, a judge then granted Mile Hi's request for a hearing on May 31st for a preliminary injunction against the city.

QUADREX has not yet completed their report, and it is expected to be issued this month. “This review will provide insight for safety recommendations for the airport’s layout, operations, and aircraft mix, and will inspect and analyze the safety and configuration of public use areas at Vance Brand Municipal Airport, including the parachute landing area or drop zone designated for use by skydivers, ultralight aircraft, balloons, and other hobbyists,” said Marijke Unger.

The City of Longmont’s website communication on the hiring of the safety consultant quotes Vance Brand Municipal Airport Manager David Slayter: “This is first and foremost about safety. The analysis is part of a process that will identify any changes we may need to make to ensure the airport operates at the highest level of safety. Under federal law, the airport must accommodate all aeronautical uses, but we also need to take appropriate steps for the safety of airport users and those on the ground.”