The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
FAA order halting parallel takeoffs at Centennial Airport disrupts flight training and operations
At the start of this month, the agency banned parallel takeoffs due to safety concerns, but without advance notice or input from stakeholders.
An FAA order restricting parallel takeoffs at Centennial Airport has disrupted flight training and operations at the facility, according to Denver7.
The changes, implemented on October 1, came after a safety risk assessment analyzing nine airports with parallel runways nationwide. The FAA says the assessment identified safety risks when aircraft depart in parallel.
Centennial Airport Authority says it received no advance notice or opportunity for public engagement before the restrictions were put in place, calling the process highly unusual.
Flight students and instructors report a drop in air traffic and training delays, with some practicing at other airports that are experiencing higher traffic as a result. One student described being informed mid-flight that touch-and-goes or patterns were no longer permitted.
The FAA indicates it is developing long-term solutions and a monitoring plan for Centennial, while the Airport Authority plans to participate in a Safety Risk Management Panel scheduled for October 27–28 to discuss mitigations that preserve operations.