FAA informs Mayor Brockett that the FAA is in charge of BDU, not Boulder
It seems that the FAA is not inclined to let go of 179 of prime Boulder acreage.
On April 23 2023, John Bauer, the FAA Denver Airports District Office Manager, sent a letter to Mayor Brockett admonishing him that Boulder is under contractual obligation to maintain BDU as an airport. The airport is three miles from downtown Boulder, is owned and sponsored by the City of Boulder, and is provided without cost to the airport. It brings pennies into the city coffers from the sale of leaded fuel, while spreading pollution on tax paying residents. Obviously the FAA would resist losing that precious asset.
The letter is in response to a comment attributed to Boulder City Council member Mark Wallach. The letter says, "The FAA received an email from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) stating that during a citizen’s work group meeting on April 11, 2023 Mayor Pro Tem Wallach stated "we are going to close the airport."
Wallach has denied making that statement.
The letter further says, "It is FAA’s policy to strengthen the national airports system and not to support the closure of public airports. The FAA has rarely approved an application to close an airport. Such approvals were only in highly unusual circumstances where closing the airport provided a benefit to civil aviation." Confirming again that the FAA is only about growth and development. Nothing else will satisfy them. The letter is linked below.
Wallach responded with a letter back to Bauer, reproaching him for not perform due diligence in ascertaining the truth or accuracy of the statement. Wallach says, "In your letter you quote me as stating, without qualification, that “we are going to close the airport.” That statement is categorically false and has never been made by me. The ultimate use of the airport will be decided by the people of Boulder and the City Council of Boulder in consultation with your agency. I would not presume to speak on behalf of the residents of Boulder or its Council on this matter before those decisions are made and without authority to do so."
Wallach adds, "I appreciate that you wish to be responsive to your constituency of 100 or so pilots and to advocate on their behalf. My constituency is a bit larger: the 108,000 residents of Boulder, and despite your letter I intend to pursue policies that I believe are in their best interests. But I have never predicted or assumed the conclusion of the community conversation we are now having on the airport.."
Wallach's full letter is linked below.
Airspace For All appreciates Mr. Wallach's reminder that the community should be able to decide the fate of that property. We also appreciate the reminder about the proportion of people who benefit from BDU compared to the number of people who pay for it: roughly 150/108,000. That is .138889% of the population.
On April 23 2023, John Bauer, the FAA Denver Airports District Office Manager, sent a letter to Mayor Brockett admonishing him that Boulder is under contractual obligation to maintain BDU as an airport. The airport is three miles from downtown Boulder, is owned and sponsored by the City of Boulder, and is provided without cost to the airport. It brings pennies into the city coffers from the sale of leaded fuel, while spreading pollution on tax paying residents. Obviously the FAA would resist losing that precious asset.
The letter is in response to a comment attributed to Boulder City Council member Mark Wallach. The letter says, "The FAA received an email from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) stating that during a citizen’s work group meeting on April 11, 2023 Mayor Pro Tem Wallach stated "we are going to close the airport."
Wallach has denied making that statement.
The letter further says, "It is FAA’s policy to strengthen the national airports system and not to support the closure of public airports. The FAA has rarely approved an application to close an airport. Such approvals were only in highly unusual circumstances where closing the airport provided a benefit to civil aviation." Confirming again that the FAA is only about growth and development. Nothing else will satisfy them. The letter is linked below.
Wallach responded with a letter back to Bauer, reproaching him for not perform due diligence in ascertaining the truth or accuracy of the statement. Wallach says, "In your letter you quote me as stating, without qualification, that “we are going to close the airport.” That statement is categorically false and has never been made by me. The ultimate use of the airport will be decided by the people of Boulder and the City Council of Boulder in consultation with your agency. I would not presume to speak on behalf of the residents of Boulder or its Council on this matter before those decisions are made and without authority to do so."
Wallach adds, "I appreciate that you wish to be responsive to your constituency of 100 or so pilots and to advocate on their behalf. My constituency is a bit larger: the 108,000 residents of Boulder, and despite your letter I intend to pursue policies that I believe are in their best interests. But I have never predicted or assumed the conclusion of the community conversation we are now having on the airport.."
Wallach's full letter is linked below.
Airspace For All appreciates Mr. Wallach's reminder that the community should be able to decide the fate of that property. We also appreciate the reminder about the proportion of people who benefit from BDU compared to the number of people who pay for it: roughly 150/108,000. That is .138889% of the population.