Pilots, airports deserve praise for evaluating safety issues

Accidents are an unfortunate occurrence in aviation. The recent mid-air collision of two airplanes over Longmont — in which an instructor pilot and student pilot were killed but which another pilot survived — was just the latest example of what can sometimes be deadly skies.

In February 2010, three people were killed when a plane collided with another plane towing a glider near Boulder Municipal Airport.

Fortunately, local flight-school pilots, other pilots and local municipal-airport officials are working to improve the safety of skies over Boulder and Broomfield counties. As Beth Potter reports in this edition, a recent forum at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield highlighted several ideas for reducing the risk of mid-air collisions in skies that include airplanes, helicopters, gliders and hot-air balloons.

Under consideration, Potter reports:

• Colorado Heli-Ops plans to develop a new website outlining designated practice areas, radio frequencies used by local pilots, common elevations at which pilots fly and other information.

• Area pilots will be invited to Colorado Heli-Ops for instruction by a Federal Aviation Administration official on procedures for avoiding collisions.

• Boulder Municipal Airport is applying to create an “alert” area around the airport, to be listed on maps, including those found in airport cockpits.

• Area pilots also plan to seek FAA approval for a new, dedicated radio frequency for all local aviation communications.

Local pilots also plan to meet several times over the coming months to develop other recommendations.

Aviation safety is critical to the health and well-being of pilots, passengers and people on the ground. But it’s important to note that accidents are rare, especially compared with daily automobile accidents on Interstate 25, U.S. Highway 36 and other thoroughfares.

But we’re encouraged that local pilots and airport officials are taking the recent accidents seriously, and are exploring ways to reduce the risks in local aviation. Safety is paramount.

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