Flight Schools
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The flight schools out of BDU are one of the huge problems.
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Too Loud |
14 CFR § 91.119 - Minimum safe altitudes: General.
Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:
(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the air-craft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
(d) Helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface--
(1) A helicopter may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, provided each person operating the helicopter complies with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA; and
(2) A powered parachute or weight- shift-control aircraft may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section. [Docket No. 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91–311, 75 FR 5223, Feb. 1, 2010]
(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the air-craft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
(d) Helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface--
(1) A helicopter may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, provided each person operating the helicopter complies with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA; and
(2) A powered parachute or weight- shift-control aircraft may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section. [Docket No. 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91–311, 75 FR 5223, Feb. 1, 2010]
Rocky Mountain Flight School
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) in Jefferson County has a number of flight schools that send planes at low altitudes over densely populated areas to train pilots in East Boulder County. Besides the noise and pollution from leaded fuel from the dozens (if not hundreds) of single engine planes passing over on a daily basis the larger concern is an engine failure that would require the pilot ditching his plane wherever he could. In the event of engine failure at an altitude of 800 feet the plane could glide only about one mile before hitting the ground. As these planes fly right down the middle of congested areas it could be necessary for the planes to make an emergency landing on a major roadway or park.
This is not a hypothetical situation. In the last month two flight school planes lost engine power and were lucky enough to find an open field to crash land. Both planes were from Rocky Mountain Flight School. An investigation shows that the fleet owned by RMFS is quite old and many of their aircraft have had previous incidents. There is also a concern that the owner of RMFS also owns the aircraft maintenance company that maintains their own and perhaps other aircraft. In addition the FAA has delegated authority to this person to approve all repairs and maintenance. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house.
This is not a hypothetical situation. In the last month two flight school planes lost engine power and were lucky enough to find an open field to crash land. Both planes were from Rocky Mountain Flight School. An investigation shows that the fleet owned by RMFS is quite old and many of their aircraft have had previous incidents. There is also a concern that the owner of RMFS also owns the aircraft maintenance company that maintains their own and perhaps other aircraft. In addition the FAA has delegated authority to this person to approve all repairs and maintenance. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house.
A report was filed with the FAA/Denver FSDO on May 7, 2021 regarding a pattern of low-altitude behavior. So far, no response has been received from the FAA.
Spartan/McAir Aviation
A report was filed with the FAA/Denver FSDO on June 2, 2021 regarding a pattern of low-altitude behavior. So far, no response has been received from the FAA.
BDU Flight Operations
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2021 to date:
Total and Local Civil/flight schools Jan - 13,543, 6,658 Feb - 9,166, 4,579 Mar - 15,380, 7,503 Apr - 14,741, 7,341 May - 15,542, 6,577 Jun - available 7/20 |
2016 flight school ops were 67,619 compared to 2019 flight school ops of 106,438. This is a 57% increase in operations from 2016 - 2019.
In 2016, there were only 5 days in the entire year with more than 400 Ops a day. In 2019 this increased to 103 days with more than 400 Ops a day. FROM 5 DAYS IN 2016 TO 103 DAYS IN 2019. Flight school ops through 5/2020 35,537 compared to 32,658 same period 2021, so down 10% 5/2021 YTD. You can't draw any conclusions with only 5 months of data though. |