Advocacy › Your airport
Arapahoe County · Est. 1968
Now: In October 2026 the FAA stopped simultaneous parallel departures at Centennial (October 1) and then banned touch-and-goes (October 9), citing a safety concern about departing aircraft drifting toward each other.
2 open issues 14 news stories Airport rep in place
In October 2026 the FAA stopped simultaneous parallel departures at Centennial (October 1) and then banned touch-and-goes (October 9), citing a safety concern about departing aircraft drifting toward each other.
Denver jetCenter raised Town Hangar rent from $660 to $1,200 a month, effective April 1, 2026. Hangar tenants filed an FAA complaint on January 28, 2026, and CPA and AOPA sent a joint letter. The FAA found the rent fair and reasonable in August and denied requests to reconsider on October 7, 2026.
FAA To Review Centennial Restrictions This Week
Safety panel will examine parallel departure risks as flight schools report mounting disruptions.
Chasing History in the T-6 ‘Pilot Maker’
Quest to retrace grandfather’s WWII training leads to visceral, living connection to past.
FAA limits VFR operations at Centennial Airport
The FAA ordered the sudden prohibition of touch-and-goes, restrictions on parallel departures, and limitations on pattern work at Centennial Airport, near Denver, around the first weekend of October.
October surprise: FAA does not care what your hangar costs
The FAA on October 7 effectively declared open season on hangar rent gouging, siding with a Denver FBO in a Part 13 complaint that the agency decided without publicly available…
Colorado’s Centennial Airport Hangar Rent Dispute Heads to Court
Denver pilots shocked by hangar rate hike — rents jump to $1,200/month
Hangar tenants claim rent hikes violate grant assurances, file FAA complaint
Centennial Airport hangar tenants filed an FAA complaint alleging that rent doubles—from $600 to $1,200 monthly—violate grant assurance requirements for "fair and reasonable" rates, potentially denying GA pilots affordable hangar access through excessive pricing. The dispute highlights tensions between airport funding needs and pilot affordability at Colorado's general aviation facilities.
Centennial Airport leads unleaded fuel initiative with $300,000 grant approval
Centennial Airport received a $300,000 grant to subsidize unleaded aviation fuel sales and offset price premiums, aiming to accelerate GA pilot adoption of unleaded fuel and address community lead concerns. The initiative matters to GA pilots because it reduces the cost barrier to switching from leaded 100LL to unleaded alternatives, with 80% of training aircraft at the airport already certified to use the unleaded fuel.
Woman worries she'll be targeted for bringing concerns over Centennial airport noise
Unleaded UL94 avgas now available at Centennial — first in Colorado
Colorado's Centennial Airport (APA) began offering unleaded UL94 avgas, marking the first availability of this fuel in the state and supporting the FAA's transition away from leaded 100LL avgas. This milestone expands options for GA pilots seeking lower-emissions fuel and helps normalize the shift toward unleaded alternatives across Colorado's pilot community.
Residents still have concerns after Centennial Airport becomes first to use unleaded fuel
Centennial Airport (KAPA) became the first Colorado airport to transition to unleaded aviation fuel, marking progress toward reducing lead emissions from general aviation; however, surrounding residents continue to express concerns about the environmental and health impacts of airport operations.
Neighbors near Centennial Airport complain of increased traffic and noise
Centennial Airport is one of the 25 busiest airports in the nation, averaging 1,000 takeoffs and landings daily. Opened in 1968 and serving the south Denver metro area, it generates $2.4 billion in business revenue and supports over 9,200 jobs. The airport is currently navigating a hangar affordability crisis with 140% rent increases, while leading Colorado's transition to unleaded aviation fuel with a $300,000 grant-funded UL94 subsidy program.
In October 2026 the FAA stopped simultaneous parallel departures at Centennial (October 1) and then banned touch-and-goes (October 9), citing a safety concern about departing aircraft drifting toward each other. The change came without advance notice to airport users and affects flight schools and pattern work across the Denver area. An FAA Safety Risk Management panel was scheduled for October 27-28, 2026 to look at the risks and possible fixes.
Town hangar rents increased from $500/month (2021) to $660, then to $1,200/month effective April 2026 — a 140% increase in 5 years. The Association of Town Hangar Tenants filed an FAA complaint alleging violations of grant assurance requirements for fair and reasonable fees. AOPA and CPA issued a joint advocacy letter January 2026.
Centennial became the first Colorado public-use airport to offer unleaded UL94 avgas in May 2023. A $300,000 grant was approved in 2024 to subsidize the transition. Approximately 80% of flight school aircraft are already certified for UL94.
Residents near the airport have organized around noise from increased traffic. Community concerns include controlled airspace headings routing traffic over neighborhoods.
Hangar Tenant FAA Complaint (Part 13) Decided: rent found fair and reasonable
Tenants alleged that raising Town Hangar rent from $660 to $1,200 a month violated FAA grant assurance requirements for fair and reasonable fees; AOPA and CPA sent a joint support letter. The FAA found the rent fair and reasonable in August 2026 and denied requests to reconsider on October 7, 2026.
FAA Suspends Parallel Departures at Centennial Airport PDF ↓
The FAA has ceased simultaneous parallel departure operations at Centennial Airport (APA) effective immediately due to a high-risk safety concern involving aircraft drift and convergence between departing aircraft. The suspension remains in effect until approved mitigations reduce the risk to acceptable levels, affecting general aviation operations at Colorado's busiest general aviation airport.
Centennial Airport FAA Operational Restrictions Statement PDF ↓
Centennial Airport's FAA control tower ceased simultaneous parallel departure operations on October 1, 2026, following FAA concerns about aircraft drifting toward one another, immediately restricting touch-and-go and pattern work without advance stakeholder notice. This affects flight schools, pilots, and airport businesses across the Denver metro area, with a Safety Risk Management Panel scheduled for October 27-28 to evaluate risks and potential mitigations.
Centennial Airport FAA Operational Restrictions Statement
Centennial Airport reports that the FAA directed cessation of simultaneous parallel departure operations effective October 1, 2026, citing aircraft drift concerns during such operations. The airport disputes the lack of advance notice and stakeholder engagement, notes significant impacts on flight schools and tenants, and advocates for local participation in the FAA's October 27–28 Safety Risk Management Panel to evaluate mitigations.
Joint AOPA & CPA Letter on Hangar Rate Increases
Advocacy letter challenging proposed Jet Center rate increases and citing FAA Grant Assurance compliance concerns.
This page is maintained by CPA Government Relations as a factual resource for pilots and community members. Suggest an update or correction
