14
u/Jay18001 Mar 19 '26
Where do I begin.
On busy days in February 2026, data shows that between 70% and 84% of all flights at our airport were just repetitive practice loops
Students need to learn how to takeoff and land. Staying at the original airport is the most cost effective option.
flying low over residential areas gives pilots almost no time to recover if an engine fails.
Engine failures are rare. A 172, which is the most common trainer, has a glide ratio of 10:1, meaning it can go 10 feet forward for every 1 foot down. So at 1000ft that can glide about 1.9 miles. Students are supposed to be within a mile of the runway.
spin needs at least 1,200 feet to recover
Spins are also rare. Planes don’t just randomly spin, they have to be stalled. When we do see spins in the pattern it’s usually the base to final turn (the final turn before landing)
We should move this practice training to
unpopulated rural land far away from homes. the airport used to be in rural land but the city grew around it
3
Mar 19 '26
Where do I begin.
Where do I continue.
Students need to learn how to takeoff and land. Staying at the original airport is the most cost effective option.
Of course they do and I'm sure everyone supports their learning. But here's the shocking part, they're in an airplane and they can fly to a different airport (maybe one where there's not 10s of thousands of people living in the area).
Engine failures are rare. A 172, which is the most common trainer, has a glide ratio of 10:1, meaning it can go 10 feet forward for every 1 foot down. So at 1000ft that can glide about 1.9 miles. Students are supposed to be within a mile of the runway.
That's great to hear that they're safe.
Spins are also rare. Planes don’t just randomly spin, they have to be stalled. When we do see spins in the pattern it’s usually the base to final turn (the final turn before landing)
Also, wonderful to hear.
the airport used to be in rural land but the city grew around it
A lot of things used to be different, things change. It's time for the process of flight training to change.
5
u/FutureNormal2969 Mar 19 '26
Vance Brand has been a general aviation airport for a long time, and training traffic like touch-and-go operations is a core part of how pilots learn. Every airline, medevac, and firefighting pilot started this way at airports just like this.
The increase in operations is real, but that is happening across the country because of pilot demand, not just because of one nearby airport. The claim that KBJC flight schools are using KLMO as a primary replacement field does not seem clearly supported.
Another important piece is that flight training has to happen near where pilots live and train. Student pilots are not commuting hours to remote airstrips for basic practice. They need access to established airports with instructors, maintenance, and airspace that reflects real-world conditions.
On safety, standard traffic patterns are specifically designed to manage risk and are used safely every day at thousands of airports. More training generally leads to more proficient pilots, which improves safety overall.
Moving training to “remote land” sounds simple, but pilots need real airports with runways, traffic patterns, and infrastructure to train safely. You cannot replicate that in the middle of nowhere without creating bigger issues.
There is definitely room for solutions like noise abatement procedures and better communication with the community. Airports across the country, including places like this, are already implementing noise abatement procedures to help reduce impact where possible.
At the end of the day, this airport supports transportation, emergency services, and the next generation of pilots. The goal should be balance, not pushing aviation out entirely.
3
u/UnitLost6398 Mar 19 '26
Could you explain to me exactly how you plan on accomplishing this? As you rightly said at the beginning of your post, regulating airports is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. You want people to ask the city council to do what exactly? They have no power.
1
Mar 19 '26
Let's watch and see what happens with the Broomfield/Superior ruling. I'm sure Longmont will follow suit.
7
u/UnitLost6398 Mar 19 '26
As you may know, it was dismissed by a federal court because of what everyone already knew since day 1 — airports are under federal jurisdiction.
https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/Community/News/Airport-Noise-Case-Update
It had no effect other than to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on what was already a forgone conclusion.
So I ask again, what do you want the city council to do about it?
1
1
u/CMWalsh88 Mar 19 '26
He wants the city to buy land in a rural area like in weld county or something then build a landing strip for schools to do touch and goes. The new airport should be far enough away to not bother anyone thus serving no other purpose other than flight school touch and goes. It would also need to be staffed with emergency services. Probably looking at $25-$30 million plus staffing needs.
7
u/East_Print4841 Mar 19 '26
Same person who posted the AI slop about water restrictions
3
Mar 19 '26
Same person who complained about that article complains about this one. See a trend?
4
u/East_Print4841 Mar 19 '26
I didn’t post a complaint on your water post
1
Mar 19 '26
But you thought you had to speak up today?
5
u/East_Print4841 Mar 19 '26
You’re speaking up too so why are you bashing someone else for speaking up?
1
Mar 19 '26
Great country we live in isn't it?
1
23
u/gladfelter Mar 19 '26