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Airport seeks seventh ARFF firefighter as larger aircraft push Yampa Valley Airport to Index C operations
Summary
Airport staff requested and the board approved adding a seventh firefighter to meet Index C rescue and firefighting (ARFF) staffing requirements as larger aircraft schedules increased Index C flights year‑round; funding to cover the position for remainder of 2025 will come from airport reserves and be incorporated into 2026 budget.
Yampa Valley Regional Airport staff told the Board of County Commissioners that growth in larger commercial aircraft (Index C aircraft such as Boeing 737‑800s and A320s) pushed the airport toward year‑round Index C operations. Sunil (airport director) explained that if an airport averages five or more Index C aircraft per day during its three busiest consecutive months, the Federal Aviation Administration indexing rules require higher firefighting staffing and equipment levels. The airport’s winter schedule and the recent shift by Southwest to 737‑800s increased average Index C movements and created recurring staffing strains.
To stabilize operations and reduce firefighter fatigue, airport management proposed adding a seventh ARFF‑qualified firefighter. Staff said the position is already accounted for in the 2026 budget; the request was for a partial‑year increase (0.31 FTE from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31, 2025) funded from YVRA reserves with a supplemental appropriation to follow. The board approved the staffing change and supplemental plan, authorizing the airport director to make the position changes for 2025 at a proposed additional expenditure of $27,500 funded from airport reserves. Staff also noted a third ARFF truck is on order for delivery in early 2026; the airport is temporarily using a loaner truck from Gunnison while maintaining operations.
Commissioners said they supported the staffing addition to address safety, fatigue and operational continuity. The board passed the requested staffing action by majority vote and directed staff to proceed with implementing the position change and to include the full cost in the 2026 budget.
