Vance Brand Airport

Longmont · Est. 1946

KLMO
Overview Key Issues Legal Cases Studies Communications News Resources
88,000
Annual Operations
448
Jobs
$73.6M
Business Revenue
212
Based Aircraft
3
Angel Flight Missions

About Vance Brand

Vance Brand Airport has served Longmont since 1946 with 88,000 annual operations and 212 based aircraft. The airport faces multiple pressures: incompatible residential development being built near runways, a narrowly defeated landing fee ordinance, community noise complaints, and an incident where a caller claimed to have fired at aircraft. CPA and AOPA have been actively advocating against encroachment and landing fees.

Economic Impact — 2025 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study

448 jobs
$29.6M payroll
$73.6M value added
$73.6M business revenue

Key Issues

Residential Encroachment

Mountain Brook Flats — a 200-apartment complex — broke ground less than half a mile from Runway 29, despite FAA warnings about incompatible land use. The earlier Modern West 2 development also raised Part 77 and Grant Assurance 21 concerns.

Landing Fee Defeat

Longmont City Council rejected an airport landing fee ordinance on a 3-4 vote in November 2025, after advocacy from CPA, AOPA, and local pilots who argued fees would harm the airport's economic viability.

Safety: Shots Fired Incident

In May 2025, a caller claimed to have fired at aircraft near the airport. The Boulder County Sheriff, FBI, and FAA investigated the incident.

Noise & Pattern Operations

Community complaints about flight training noise led to discussions of 'saturated pattern' policies. AOPA clarified the term is outdated and opposes operational restrictions.

Studies & Reports

KLMO Vance Brand Airport Business Plan

· City of Longmont

Strategic business plan for airport operations and development.

Official Communications & Documents

Letters, memoranda, and formal correspondence between aviation authorities, local government, and community stakeholders.

Flags 200-apartment development near Runway 29 as aviation safety risk violating FAA compatibility guidelines.

AOPA opposes 'saturated pattern' concept as outdated; clarifies operational authority rests with FAA.

Joint AOPA/CPA Letter: Part 77 Determinations

September 10, 2025 · AOPA/CPA

Clarifies that FAA Part 77 findings are limited in scope and do not constitute approval of development.

Requests City of Longmont carefully consider economic impacts before imposing landing fees.

FAA warns incompatible land use near airport violates Grant Assurance 21.

News & Developments

Sep 18, 2026
Town Hall: What the City Can and Cannot Do About Airport Noise (YouTube) Longmont Town Hall meeting to discuss what can and cannot be done with or for the airport.
Watch: Town Hall: What the City Can and Cannot Do About Airport Noise
Sep 8, 2026
Longmont Revives Airport Landing Fee Discussion (AVweb)
Jul 28, 2026
Longmont Weighs Airport Noise, FAA Funds (AVweb) The city’s July 27 town hall followed a debated decision to accept federal money for airport repairs.
Jul 15, 2026
Longmont rates and charges study (Bolton & Menk) (City of Longmont) The consultant study behind the council vote to develop a broader rates-and-charges schedule.
Feb 20, 2026
'Incompatible' land use continues — 200-apartment complex breaks ground near Runway 29 (AOPA) # Synopsis for CPA Timeline A 200-apartment residential complex is breaking ground near Runway 29 at a Colorado airport, exemplifying ongoing incompatible land use development that threatens airport operations and GA pilot access. This encroachment represents a critical land use planning issue that can ultimately lead to airport closure or operational restrictions affecting the general aviation community.
Nov 19, 2025
Longmont City Council rejects airport landing fee ordinance 3-4 (Daily Camera) # Synopsis for CPA Timeline Longmont City Council voted 4-3 to reject a proposed landing fee ordinance at Longmont Muni (KLMO), preventing the implementation of new aircraft landing charges at the airport. This outcome protects GA pilots from additional operating costs at a Colorado general aviation facility.
Nov 8, 2025
Op-Ed: Arguments against Longmont landing fee proposal (CPA) Longmont officials proposed a landing fee at KLMO that would generate revenue for airport improvements, but opponents argue such fees would discourage GA traffic, reduce economic activity at the facility, and place financial burden on local pilots and businesses. This matters to GA pilots because landing fees at community airports could establish precedent for similar charges at other Colorado facilities, potentially increasing operational costs for general aviation.
May 14, 2025
Caller claims to have fired at aircraft near Vance Brand Airport — FBI and FAA investigate (AVweb) # Fuel/Environmental Development Timeline Synopsis **Not applicable.** This article concerns a reported shooting incident at an airport and does not relate to fuel or environmental developments relevant to GA pilots.
May 19, 2024
Longmont airport: city attempts to balance housing needs with FAA concerns (Times Call) Longmont officials are navigating FAA restrictions that designate residential development near Vance Brand Municipal Airport as incompatible land use, requiring the city to balance housing needs with federal grant funding rules that mandate airport-compatible zoning. This matters to GA pilots because residential encroachment pressures threaten airport operations and could impact future federal funding that supports airport infrastructure and services.

Resources & Official Documents

Airport Advisory Board Meeting (Apr 2025)

Related

Noise Abatement (KLMO) Fuel & Environmental Landing Fees Community Value Legislative Tracker Airport Network Report an Issue

This page is maintained by the CPA Advocacy Committee as a factual resource for pilots and community members. Suggest an update or correction

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