Airspace For All
Boulder citizens deserve local control
of Boulder Municipal Airport
Airspace For All, AFA
is a coalition of Boulder, Colorado citizens seeking
- Healthy air and quiet skies for every living thing in Boulder County,
- To raise awareness of the usage of our sky, the resulting impacts, and the trends,
- A voice in what happens at our airport, Boulder Municipal, BDU.
Not just pilots and aviation vested interests
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The City of Boulder and Boulder Municipal Airport are starting to develop the next Master Plan, the airport growth and development plan for the next 20 years.
In the spring and summer of 2023, the City conducted an "Airport Community Conversation" to hear from all stakeholders, including residents both in and outside the city. Project staff claimed to have developed options for the airport based on community input. Problem is: very few residents actually heard of the project! Those group who knew the most about the project were the aviation vested interests. The next decision point for BDU will be in January 2024, when the new City Council is seated. |
Clearing the Skies:
Unveiling the Health Impacts of Leaded Aviation Fuel Free Zoom webinar
When: Nov 1, 2023 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: "Clearing The Skies: Unveiling the Health Impacts of Leaded Aviation Fuel" Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ofCcRALvR4aVj222nNALLA The science is clear when it comes to lead avgas impacts on communities, but this knowledge has not yet permeated far in our society. The purpose of this talk is to help disseminate and answer questions pertaining to the scientific community's consensus on the impact of airborne lead nanoparticulate on health. The talk will be led by Dr. Robert Boutelle who holds a PhD in Materials Chemistry. Dr. Boutelle will shed light on why lead emissions from piston aircraft pose a greater toxicity risk compared to outdated leaded fuel for automobiles. Additionally, he will offer insights into what communities can do to safeguard their health and environment.
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For the latest updates about Boulder Municipal Airport, see"BDU Master Plan"
Who should decide what happens at BDU?
According to the FAA, it is the businesses that profit from BDU while externalizing the pollution costs onto tax paying residents that should decide about BDU. The ones that receive free land and capital improvement subsidies. The same industry that has refused to support the switch to unleaded fuel, refused to consider operational limits of any kind, and refuse to use quieter equipment. They get to decide what happens at BDU and in our skies. NOT the taxpayers who the provide the land or the residents that bear the pollution.
For aviation, FAA regulation actually means freedom from regulation, even while being highly subsidized at every governmental level.
The FAA provides industry with the regulations and infrastructure so the industry can do what it likes. The FAA will not allow local entities to restrict or direct airport operations. Further, the FAA says, "FAA does not make decisions about flight times, number of operations, and aircraft type departing from or landing at airports. These decisions rest with private industry."
We believe that residents and local leadership, who provide the subsidies that allow BDU to exist and bear the externalized costs of its operation, should have a say about what happens at BDU. Freedom from the FAA's lack of regulation means not taking FAA grant money.
For aviation, FAA regulation actually means freedom from regulation, even while being highly subsidized at every governmental level.
The FAA provides industry with the regulations and infrastructure so the industry can do what it likes. The FAA will not allow local entities to restrict or direct airport operations. Further, the FAA says, "FAA does not make decisions about flight times, number of operations, and aircraft type departing from or landing at airports. These decisions rest with private industry."
We believe that residents and local leadership, who provide the subsidies that allow BDU to exist and bear the externalized costs of its operation, should have a say about what happens at BDU. Freedom from the FAA's lack of regulation means not taking FAA grant money.
What does Boulder, Colorado stand for? Sustainable living, green technology, a beautiful, healthy environment, a caring, empowered citizenry, equity?
Boulder Municipal Airport (BDU) is none of those things.
Boulder Municipal Airport (BDU) is none of those things.
This image shows flights looping over Pleasantview Soccer Fields.
The sky is literally the limit for flight schools, recreational flying, glider towing, and flight tours in and around Boulder County. These businesses have taken over Boulder County skies at the expense of residents, including at Boulder Municipal Airport, BDU. |
Boulder skies are being marketed, used, and polluted by a carbon-based industry that knows no boundsBoulder families are literally being driven from their homes because of general aviation traffic, while our sky becomes a free, increasingly crowded playground for the general aviation industry.
Most of these planes burn leaded aviation fuel, which they purchase at BDU. This ongoing, daily activity spreads nanoparticles of lead dust into the air, which accumulates in soil, water, plants, animals, and our bodies. There are four regional airports within 15 miles of downtown Boulder, and ten airports within 50 miles. Flight schools and recreational flyers are encouraged to use all these airports, which are at their disposal freely without restraint, without cost, and without accountability.. BDU hosts many more aircraft than what are actually based there. Noise, pollution, bad behavior, and even harassment are now real problems |
FAA grant money - a devil's bargain
US airports take FAA money because it completely serves industry interests - it's free money and the FAA disallows any local control. Thus, the deciders of how our airports and sky are used are the businesses that profit from this intrusive, carbon-based, mostly recreational activity. Sadly, these vested interests have clearly and repeatedly shown that they are not willing to give the littlest bit in accomodating residents concerns, becaue they don't have to. Indeed they often show contempt for residents.
Cities and counties have passively accepted FAA grant restrictions, as if there is no alternative. This is even while use of our skies grows progressively out of control and the airport land becomes more valuable over time.
BDU operations have grown 25% in the past four years, and are expected to continue to grow. All that residents or city coffers have gotten from this growth is noise and pollution.
The BDU Master Plan is now being updated. Boulder residents have never before been asked what they want their airport to be. Now, residents need to ask themselves - do we want the FAA and the general aviation industry telling use what's permissable in our sky and what's not? Or, should residents and leadership have a say?
Cities and counties have passively accepted FAA grant restrictions, as if there is no alternative. This is even while use of our skies grows progressively out of control and the airport land becomes more valuable over time.
BDU operations have grown 25% in the past four years, and are expected to continue to grow. All that residents or city coffers have gotten from this growth is noise and pollution.
The BDU Master Plan is now being updated. Boulder residents have never before been asked what they want their airport to be. Now, residents need to ask themselves - do we want the FAA and the general aviation industry telling use what's permissable in our sky and what's not? Or, should residents and leadership have a say?