City of Lone Tree
Your Local Representatives
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Issue Overview
Why the Change in Flight Pattern?
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The increase of flight school training aircraft over our homes is a result of the mid-air collision over Cherry Creek State Park in May 2021 [Watch News Story]. Changes were made to the way the local Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Controllers manage air traffic for the two parallel runways at Centennial Airport. Before the incident, the Air Traffic Control Tower could keep most traffic in the touch & go pattern south of Arapahoe Road – but after the incident, the FAA made the decisions to take a more "active control" and "tighten up the ship" said, FAA Denver District Manager, Michael Valencia at the Centennial Airport Community Roundtable meeting on Feb. 1, 2023. This means staggering traffic which results in
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extending the pattern north of Arapahoe Road. Michael Valencia also stated, "the FAA's #1 priority is avoiding mid-air collisions".
The community believes there should have been an NEPA environmental study conducted on the impact this changed would have on surrounding communities. On April 4, 2023 the NTSB published their final report on the cause of the mid-air collision finding the pilot and air traffic control at fault News Article / NTSB Report |
What is at risk?
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Our Health: Flight school planes are using leaded fuel which poses health risks to our families, pets and the environment - Children and Pregnant women are the most vulnerable. Read the study below on lead levels in children living near the Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, California.
Our Safety: There have been 3 crashes in 2022. The new flight path increases the risk of crash over one of our homes or schools. |
Noise Pollution/Mental Health: Constant exposure to high decibels of noise that these planes create, make it hard to enjoy our own backyards, parks, and playgrounds. There are also major health risks to this level of this noise exposure.
Negative Community Impact: Our property values are at risk! |
Leaded Aviation Fuel
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Last year 700,000 gallons of leaded gasoline was burned hundreds of feet over our homes and schools where children are learning and playing. The lead that rains down is also potentially here to stay, remaining in our soil and water for years to come. Unleaded alternatives now exist, yet the airport and FAA say it will take years to transition to safer fuels. For decades, lead has been banned
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from nearly everything in our lives (lead based paint, water pipes, our cars) yet, lead remains in general aviation. There are still 170,000 general aviation piston aircrafts operating in the U.S that use leaded fuel. Leaded fuel prevents engine knock in piston aircraft which could lead to engine issues. Centennial Airport is #4 on the list of the top 100 lead emitting airports in entire country.
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