The City of Longmont has begun a master plan process at the Longmont Airport, one that includes looking into whether to extend the runway. Proponents state that the process is in its infancy and that the process will be open for public review, yet critics of the plan have already begun an all-out campaign to disrupt this process by lodging complaints in attempts to show a high pattern of noise abuse by the airport, which they feel will be helpful in preventing further development at the airport.
Proponents of the Longmont Airport state that a small, vocal group of residents, mostly comprised of those in unincorporated Boulder County who live near the western edge of the airport, have begun "harassing" users of the airport. Recently, opponents have been targeting the largest business at the airport, Mile-Hi Skydiving (which has been at the airport since 1995), by repeatedly calling in about the “drone” of the skydiving planes.
Proponents recently were made aware that critics have purchased scanners to monitor the airport’s frequency to listen when skydivers are jumping from the plane and immediately are putting out calls to a list of people, who then will call the Airport Manager en masse to lodge noise complaints. These calls are said to occur not from hearing the “drone” of the skydiving plane, but when they hear on the scanner that skydivers are jumping and upon hearing the “jumpers away” signal, whether they are being aggravated by the sound of the airplane or not.
This new development comes on the heels of critics complaining about a recent nighttime skydive by Mile-Hi Skydiving, in which callers complained that they weren’t given "enough notice" about the event. Proponents say that like pilots who require a certain number of nighttime take-offs and landings to maintain their night currency, skydivers who want to obtain a particular rating are required to have a certain number of night jumps and that the recent event occurred on a Friday night, when it was least likely to impact those during the work week.
Proponents of the Longmont Airport have stated that nearby residents who are criticizing the airport also need to be good neighbors of the airport themselves, and who knew that there would be a noise impact living near the airport, and have become oversensitive to the airport noise. There is a document that most residents in the “Airport Influence Zone” sign when they purchase a home that is in close proximity to the airport. This document states: "Due to the proximity of the property to the Vance Brand Airport, there will be aircraft passing above the property. Aircraft passage may result in noise and other impacts on the property. Aircraft may cross above the property at low altitude in accordance with FAA regulations. The frequency of aircraft passing over the property may increase in the future." Some opponents of the airport are in disagreement with that letter and have gone as far as to state that neighborhoods have developed to the levels that they feel they can now question whether the airport should be in existence there at all.
Some proponents agree that while there are possibly legitimate noise complaints coming from the airport, this recent mode and level of complaining about the airport should be seen as harassment towards the airport and its users, is infringing on their rights as users and business operators of the airport, and is disruptive and counterproductive to the upcoming master plan process.
More information about this issue and about Longmont Airport can be found at: LongmontAirport.com
Comments
First that stupid citizen group puts out all kinds of nonsense about the airport, now this? I heard they plan to show up at the airport mtg tomorrow night to spew more garbage.
12/21/11 Update...it was brought to my attention that a new group by the name of Citizens Against Quiet Skies falsely believes that my article was referring to their being party to the calling in whenever hearing "jumpers away"
That claim, made by the leader of this group (Kimberly Gibbs) is false. This article was written before their group had organized. No where in my article was mention of which "group of people" were doing this. I would kindly remind Ms Gibbs to clarify the misinformation she is receiving before impugning my good name in a rally call to her "trooops"
Brigette Rodriguez
They want to know in advance when a skydiver jumps out of planes? Why??? That's ridiculous. Come on!!
I remember when Mile Hi did a night jump with lights or something and people called in thinking it was UFOs. That was funny. Live and let live people.
Someone mentioned that a group that's been complaining about the airport also held a meeting at a Markey rally, do you know who that was?
Citizens against Runway Expansion (CARE) at Longmont Airport posted on their website recently that they were holding a meeting at the Betsy Markey "community bbq".
Guess airport supporters won't be casting their votes for Markey.
Hmmm. You buy a house next to an airport and you hear airplanes. I wonder how that happens? Just dumb. These folks were well aware the airport was there and moved in anyway so they have no right to complain.
Bridge - this is a good piece that I suggest you sub to the Time's Call.
Thank you Dian, unfortunately it's almost 600 words long and the TC limit is 300. I might consider submitting it as a guest editorial.
Thanks for this insight, Brigette. The airport opponents are way off base. We need the airport to be financially viable and self sufficient. It should be well cared for and supported. It serves all of Longmont. Nutty opposition is not in the best interest of Longmont.
Thank you Brigette for your post indicating correctly that Citizens For Quiet Skies is not the group you were referring to in your article. The reason it came up recently is because one of your readers called to harass me about using the tactics described in your article. Since no facts or evidence are presented in your article to support your statements it is easy to draw inaccurate conclusions about who and what group you intended to implicate. Now, if you want an example of harassment, take a look at the nasty comments posted here which are becoming the hallmark of the skydiving community.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV4v2baa91E
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