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Resident urges Jefferson County to act on Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport safety after recent Cessna crash
Summary
Carolyn Varmint, a resident, urged Jefferson County commissioners on March 11 to take immediate action to reduce safety risks at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport after a recent Cessna crash and other incidents.
Carolyn Varmint, a resident who addressed the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners during public comment on March 11, said the county is not doing enough to protect residents, students and businesses near Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) after a recent Cessna crash.
Varmint said the aircraft struck lights and signage during a touch-and-go maneuver after encountering a gust of wind, and she referenced a 2022 Cessna crash in the Interlochen area. Citing an FAA aviation report and FAA advisory guidance for airports near mountain ranges, she said RMMA’s elevation creates density-altitude conditions that reduce aircraft performance and leave pilots with less margin for error.
The resident also raised wildlife hazards: she said RMMA’s wildlife hazard assessment identifies Stanley Lake and the Great Western Reservoir as risks because of abundant wildlife, that those landmarks are noted on the airport’s voluntary noise abatement plan (VNAP), and that no meaningful mitigations have been implemented. She pointed to schools near the hazard zones, naming Wayne Carl Middle School and Lucas Elementary as examples of nearby campuses she said are especially vulnerable.
Varmint urged the board to pursue specific actions now, including implementing landing fees to generate revenue while discouraging repetitive flight training over populated areas, adopting a policy in the VNAP to avoid repetitive operations over neighborhoods, and invoking a grant-assurance authority she referenced to restrict aeronautical activities that pose a safety risk. She also asked the board what it would take — “does a plane need to crash into a home, a neighborhood, or a school” — before the county acts.
The board did not take formal action during the public-comment period. County staff later reminded the public that the airport advisory board meets Wednesday, March 12, at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport; the advisory board is the standing forum that typically reviews RMMA matters.
Varmint’s comments cite FAA materials and the county’s voluntary noise abatement plan. The transcript does not record a specific response or a motion by commissioners on the recommendations she raised.
