Show All Answers

1. What can the RMMACNR do to keep airplanes from flying over my neighborhood?

The RMMACNR can make recommendations to Jefferson County and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about ways to address noise concerns.   However, the FAA retains sole control and regulatory authority over the National Airspace System. RMMA has no control over how and where the aircraft fly. Once the wheels of the aircraft leave the pavement, the aircraft is under the control of the Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control. Safety is the number one concern and keeping maximum separation between aircraft takes precedence over noise related concerns.

2. How busy is the airport? How is the level of activity at the airport measured?

Activity levels at airports are measured by aircraft operations. An operation is defined by the FAA as a takeoff or a landing. So, a “touch and go” conducted by a training aircraft counts as two operations. In 2021, RMMA experienced 201,423 aircraft operations. That’s, on average, a takeoff or landing approximately every three minutes. However, the amount of operations varies significantly by season and time of day. The highest annual operations at RMMA occurred in 1977, with more than 248,000 aircraft operations.

3. What are RMMA’s hours of operation?

As a public-use airport, RMMA is open for business 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in most weather conditions. Airport administration office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays. Airport operations are staffed 24/7.

4. Why can’t planes take off in the “other” direction?

Airplanes must take off and land into the wind. The prevailing wind direction at RMMA is from the northwest, and the primary sets of runways are oriented accordingly. 

The areas immediately underneath the departure and approach ends of the runways will experience high volumes of aircraft overflights. Areas underneath the standard traffic pattern will also experience substantial volumes of aircraft overflights. 

5. Who do I call to complain about airplane noise?

RMMA collects noise complaints. If you have been affected by noise from RMMA, please call the noise complaint line at 303-271-4874 or complete the online complaint form.

6. What noise abatement procedures are in effect?

RMMA publishes voluntary noise abatement procedures in order to encourage pilots to fly as community-friendly as possible. These procedures should be used only when practical.In all cases, safety and air traffic control instructions take precedence.

In addition to the above procedures, RMMA encourages all tenants and airport users to follow the National Business Aircraft Association’s Fly Quiet procedures. These procedures can be found on the NBAA Environment web page.

7. Is there a legal minimum altitude that airplanes can fly over residential areas?

Federal Aviation Regulations specify a minimum safe altitude of 1,000 feet over congested areas and 500 feet over non-congested areas. Helicopters and aircraft that are in the process of taking off or landing are exempt from these altitude requirements.