A Westminster resident and aviation‑safety advocates told the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 4 they believe repetitive pilot training operations at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) are creating safety risks and noise impacts for nearby communities and urged two county actions: implement landing fees and strengthen voluntary noise abatement language to discourage repetitive pattern training.

Carolyn Farbman, 733 Kipling St., said recent aviation incidents should prompt action and cited an FAA safety report and RMMA’s own wildlife hazard assessment. “This congestion not only threatens pilot safety, but also endangers the lives of those who live, learn, work and play below,” Farbman said. She noted FAA guidance for 1,000‑foot altitudes over congested areas and a recommendation of 5,000 feet separation between aircraft movement areas and wildlife attractants; she said RMMA’s pattern operations occur close to Stanley Lake and Great Western Reservoir.

Farbman recommended the board vote to implement landing fees (she cited Grant Assurance 24 as authorizing fees) and to add a provision to the voluntary noise abatement plan asking users to avoid repetitive training operations in the traffic pattern. She also quoted portions of a voluntary FAA 2024 safety report from pilots expressing concern about air‑traffic management at RMMA.

Bree Layman, speaking online about the county’s voluntary noise abatement procedures, urged the county to include affected communities and noise tracking data in its process and to avoid dismissing community input. “The noninclusion of actually affected communities is a serious oversight,” Layman said.

Commissioners acknowledged the testimony. The board did not adopt changes to the noise abatement plan or levy landing fees at the Feb. 4 meeting; staff indicated a presentation on voluntary noise abatement procedures was forthcoming later in the agenda.

Ending: Speakers urged the county to engage affected communities in formal planning and to consider fee structures and voluntary restrictions to reduce repetitive training operations; commissioners asked staff to note the input.