The BDU Buzz
What's going on around BDU
Briefly, it is time for BDU to develop its next Master Plan, to steer airport growth and development for the next 10 to 20 years. In 2023, the Boulder City Council held a "Community Conversation" about the future of the airport. That project has ended. More complete historical information is available via the archive button below.
Next Important Dates
The consultants conducting that project produced four possible scenarios. These scenarios will be discussed at a consequential City Council meeting in March 2024.
Four scenarios for BDU
The consulting company conducting the Airport Community Conversation, Kimley Horn, has put forth four scenarios regarding the future of BDU to be considered by the City Council. Check them out.
Middle income down payments vs. thousands of new housing units
In 2019 Boulder voters supported taxing themselves to provide interest free loans for middle income home purchases. It is estimated this could help about 10 families per year purchase a home. In contrast, developing BDU land in a neighborhood could literally generate thousands of middle income housing units.
The FAA tells Boulder who is in charge
In April 2023, based on a rumor that a Boulder City Council member said the airport would be shut down, the FAA responded with a threatening letter to the City Council. The alleged speaker denies making that statement.
What entities support the aviation industry?
It's not just the FAA greasing the wheels for aviation. The aviation industry is well organized and well funded. Lots of groups advocate for this industry and so are allocating resources to influencing what happens at BDU. Must be nice to have funded special interests to support your privileged activity.
"The Colorado Aviation Business Association is leading a multi organizational effort to not only increase the advocacy for airports in the area but also fight back on many of these homeowners who will complain without any factual knowledge on the subject."
"The Colorado Pilots Association has an advocacy site set up at https://coloradopilots.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=612720&module_id=641945 which is trying to bring together relevant information about the top level issues (100LL and purposes for the airport) as well as specific issues to each airport. They also send out alerts to their members when there is a public forum for pilots to speak with local governments to try to help educate them on the issues."
"AOPA is also very much involved." https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/176mvnr/denver_nimbys/
"The Colorado Aviation Business Association is leading a multi organizational effort to not only increase the advocacy for airports in the area but also fight back on many of these homeowners who will complain without any factual knowledge on the subject."
"The Colorado Pilots Association has an advocacy site set up at https://coloradopilots.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=612720&module_id=641945 which is trying to bring together relevant information about the top level issues (100LL and purposes for the airport) as well as specific issues to each airport. They also send out alerts to their members when there is a public forum for pilots to speak with local governments to try to help educate them on the issues."
"AOPA is also very much involved." https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/176mvnr/denver_nimbys/