Amid ongoing complaints about aircraft traffic and noise, members of the Centennial Airport’s community noise roundtable discussed their top priorities and plans to release a new progress report next month.
The airport, located in Arapahoe County, is one of the nation’s busiest for general aviation. For more than a year, residents who live nearby have raised concerns about increased air traffic and noise and possible lead pollution, citing negative impacts on the community. Some formed a group, Quiet Skies Over Arapahoe County, to advocate for changes.
The latest report looking into noise mitigation is expected in the weeks ahead, according to Brad Pierce.
“We’re waiting for some information from some of the stakeholders,” he said. “Once we get all the information from all the stakeholders, the study group will compile the report and the idea is to bring it here to the next roundtable meeting in February.”
Pierce is chair of the Centennial Airport Community Noise Roundtable, a recommending body made up of local elected officials in Arapahoe and Douglas counties, appointed representatives from the community, and airport staff and users. It aims to work with the airport to find ways to reduce and mitigate the impact of aircraft noise.
Last year, in response to resident complaints, the roundtable established a “study group committee” with the goal of developing noise mitigation strategies for the communities north and west of the airport.
This committee includes Arapahoe County Commissioner Jessica Campbell-Swanson, flight school representatives, Federal Aviation Administration representatives and Centennial Airport Executive Director and CEO Mike Fronapfel.
In October, the committee released a report about initial changes the airport and the FAA would make to reduce noise.
For example, one change was the airport adding a full-time employee this year to improve the airport’s ability to investigate and report airport noise and operations data. Another change was implementing outreach and education programs to flight schools about the preferred traffic pattern they should follow.
When the October report was released, Fronapfel said there were several other mitigation efforts that were still under consideration and more reports would be coming.
At a Jan. 3 meeting, several members of the noise roundtable expressed that they want to learn more about a separate process that the airport is going through to address noise concerns, called “Part 150.”
According to the FAA, the Part 150 program provides a “structured approach” for airport operators, airlines, pilots, the FAA and neighboring communities to work together to reduce the number of people who live in significantly noise-impacted areas.
“The Part 150 study is what we need to better understand as a roundtable, understand how we can support the airport in doing a successful Part 150 such that the FAA will take it serious,” said Mike Anderson, a Lone Tree City Council member who is on the roundtable.
“I think that’s probably the most important issue for the roundtable,” he added.
Airport staff announced the first Part 150 public meeting will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight, which is located at the airport. Staff said the meeting will go over the history and purpose of a Part 150 study and how it relates to Centennial Airport.
Pierce asked staff if someone can also give a presentation to the noise roundtable in February to further explain how the Part 150 process works, to which staff said they would work on scheduling that.
Those interested in learning more about the noise roundtable can visit centennialairportnoise.com or email questions to info@centennialairportnoise.com.