September 1989 Issue Summary: This issue of the Colorado Pilots Association Flight Lines covers regulatory concerns, airport management issues, and general aviation industry trends. President Walt Barbo addresses a significant legal question about airport closures for non-aeronautical purposes, particularly following automobile races held at Front Range Airport. The newsletter also reports on declining general aviation activity across the Denver metropolitan region and Colorado statewide, with aircraft registrations dropping approximately 16-21% over three years, and forecasts showing no expected recovery until 2010 or beyond.
The publication highlights infrastructure challenges, including a deteriorating runway surface at Pagosa Springs Airport and planning efforts for terminal control airspace around the proposed new Denver airport. Regional planning data shows notable drops in based aircraft at major metropolitan airports, prompting discussions about future capital investment priorities focused on facility improvements rather than capacity expansion.
Key Topics
- Legal status of airport closures for non-aeronautical events (automobile races)
- 1987 Airport and Airway Development Act amendments and FAA policy clarification
- Regional aviation system planning and pilot attitude survey by DRCOG
- Declining general aviation activity and aircraft registration trends
- Based aircraft statistics across Denver metropolitan airports (1985-2010)
- Proposed Denver airport impact on existing regional airports
- Pagosa Springs runway surface deterioration issues
- Terminal Control Area (TCA) preliminary design planning
Events & Activities
- July 15 Denver-to-Jackpot Air Classic (550 mile flight)
- June automobile races at Front Range Airport
- August 9 DRCOG Aviation Technical Advisory Committee meeting
Member News
- William Jones of Denver featured with his Cutlass RG aircraft, averaging 134.07 mph on the Denver-to-Jackpot Air Classic flight
