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Longmont · Est. 1946
Now: The City of Longmont mailed residents a "Noise Discussion" postcard asking for comments about noise from Vance Brand Airport.
2 open issues 9 news stories Airport rep in place
The City of Longmont mailed residents a "Noise Discussion" postcard asking for comments about noise from Vance Brand Airport. The city is running an Airport Noise Improvement Project, with a virtual meeting on May 7, 2026 and a report to the City Council on July 28, 2026, and held an airport noise town hall on July 27, 2026.
The Longmont City Council voted down a $5 per 1,000 lb landing fee in late 2025. In July 2026 it asked city staff to draft a broader airport fee schedule, modeled at $2 per 1,000 lb. Nothing has been adopted.
Longmont Weighs Airport Noise, FAA Funds
The city’s July 27 town hall followed a debated decision to accept federal money for airport repairs.
Town Hall: What the City Can and Cannot Do About Airport Noise
Longmont Town Hall meeting to discuss what can and cannot be done with or for the airport.
Longmont rates and charges study (Bolton & Menk)
The consultant study behind the council vote to develop a broader rates-and-charges schedule.
'Incompatible' land use continues — 200-apartment complex breaks ground near Runway 29
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.
Longmont City Council rejects airport landing fee ordinance 3-4
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.
Op-Ed: Arguments against Longmont landing fee proposal
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.
Caller claims to have fired at aircraft near Vance Brand Airport — FBI and FAA investigate
Longmont airport: city attempts to balance housing needs with FAA concerns
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.
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.
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.
Longmont City Council rejected an airport landing fee ordinance on a 3-4 vote in late 2025, after advocacy from CPA, AOPA and local pilots who argued fees would harm the airport's economic viability. In July 2026 the council asked city staff to draft a broader airport fee schedule, so the question is open again.
In May 2025, a caller claimed to have fired at aircraft near the airport. The Boulder County Sheriff, FBI, and FAA investigated the incident.
Community complaints about flight training noise led to discussions of 'saturated pattern' policies. AOPA clarified the term is outdated and opposes operational restrictions.
KLMO Vance Brand Airport Business Plan
Strategic business plan for airport operations and development.
AOPA Opposes Longmont Three-Aircraft Pattern Threshold PDF ↓
AOPA argues that Longmont City Council's proposed three-aircraft traffic pattern cap, voluntary touch-and-go restrictions, and AWOS policy broadcasts lack FAA support and introduce operational ambiguity at a federal airport. The letter urges the city to pause implementation and pursue collaborative, FAA-coordinated noise abatement strategies instead.
AOPA Opposes Longmont's Proposed Saturated Pattern Policy PDF ↓
AOPA clarified that its 17-year-old Safety Advisor 08 document does not support restricting touch-and-go operations and that the term "saturated pattern" has no basis in FAA policy. The letter urges Longmont to abandon any proposed policy limiting touch-and-go landings, which are essential for pilot training and governed solely by federal regulations, not local ordinance.
Joint AOPA/CPA Letter: Incompatible Land Use at Mountain Brook Flats
Flags 200-apartment development near Runway 29 as aviation safety risk violating FAA compatibility guidelines.
AOPA Clarification RE Saturated Pattern Policy
AOPA opposes 'saturated pattern' concept as outdated; clarifies operational authority rests with FAA.
Joint AOPA/CPA Letter: Part 77 Determinations
Clarifies that FAA Part 77 findings are limited in scope and do not constitute approval of development.
Joint AOPA/CPA Letter: Landing Fee Considerations
Requests City of Longmont carefully consider economic impacts before imposing landing fees.
FAA Perspective on Modern West Development
FAA warns incompatible land use near airport violates Grant Assurance 21.
This page is maintained by CPA Government Relations as a factual resource for pilots and community members. Suggest an update or correction
