Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport ready for takeoff

Airports are business magnets, drawing both relocation and new development. And the revenue that flies in eventually taxies out to the surrounding communities, which in turn helps the airport stay aloft.

Larimer County’s own strong municipal magnet sits at the intersection of Interstate 25 and Crossroads Boulevard.

“Sometimes we have to remind the business communities in Loveland and Fort Collins that the Fort Collins-Loveland Airport generates $37 million a year,´ said Dave Gordon, airport manager. “And that figure came from an economic report published before (commercial carrier) Allegiant Air began to fly in here. I expect the next report will show an even greater economic impact.”

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The Colorado Division of Aeronautics studies the state of the state’s airports every five years. Among other indicators of growth are fuel sales and numbers of aircraft based at an airport. In February, Travis Vallin, director of the Division of Aeronautics, reported that there had been good growth in the local turbine and jet fleet associated with corporate travel, which in turn suggested some good growth in the economy.

That is reflected in the recently completed $6 million project at the airport funded by a big grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Our runways and taxiways are in really good shape,” Gordon said. “We have all new on-the-ground lighting and have improved our hangers. With our next million-dollar grant we will concentrate on security and snow-moving equipment.”

Those improved hangers are already full. The airport is awaiting the addition of 50 more hangers scheduled to be built by a local developer by this summer.

“These hangers will serve pistons, twins and turbo props,” Gordon said.

But Martin Lind, developer of Water Valley in Windsor, has even grander plans for a gem of an airport.  He would like to see a high-end airpark located just “through the fence” at the southern end of the existing airport that could become a measurable driver of economic growth.

“This is a must-have right now,´ said Lind, himself a pilot. “We could be a center for bigger regional users. To grow, we need to have that airport open for business.”

Lind’s proposal for an airpark on non-airport property is moving toward approval by various governmental and regulatory agencies. The corporate cluster would be attached to the airport’s runway by a new taxiway, through an arrangement similar to one that already exists to the north at Centre Point Business Airpark.

“We are in the final stages of creating a working agreement that meets the approval of the airport advisory board,” Lind said. “Then in early ’08, we’ll submit the plan to the FAA. I am sure that we have followed all the protocols to meet the standards of a formal review.”

“We are still negotiating access with Lind,” Gordon said. “We know the quality of his projects and that he has the ability to do what he says he’s going to do. Still, we don’t want to get too excited and jeopardize our FAA funds.”

Most business owners located there support the incremental growth and improvements.

“I don’t know much about the grand plans for the airport,´ said Gerald Gates, owner of Bob Gates Aircraft Maintenance, located at the airport. “But making improvements around the airport will make it more attractive to business people who need to fly.”