Developed by the City of Louisville and the Town of Superior
About This Page
RMMA is surrounded by residential communities, including Superior, Louisville, Broomfield and Westminster. As operations have steadily increased over the past few years, aircraft overflights and noise are a growing concern for residents. This webpage was developed to help educate on airport operations and policies/procedures and to address common community concerns and questions.
Understanding the Airport
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (RMMA) is located at 11755 Airport Way in the northern portion of Jefferson County. RMMA is owned and operated by Jefferson County.
To learn more about RMMA, please visit their website .
Airport Layout
RMMA has three runways. The longest runway (12L-30R) runs in a northwest/southeast orientation as does the shorter parallel runway (12R-30L). Runway 12L-30R is primarily used for larger aircraft and itinerant operations. The shorter parallel runway is used primarily for flight training and aircraft remaining within the local traffic pattern (i.e. touch-and-goes).
Flight Training
The typical flight paths depicted for aircraft in the airport traffic pattern are illustrated in white on the map.
Touch-and-go operations are a common component in flight training as this gives pilots the opportunity to practice take-offs and landings. When flying touch-and-goes, the aircraft takes-off, circles the airport, lands, then takes-off again repeating the pattern.
Touch-and-goes are flown under visual flight rules and the specific pattern will vary based on air traffic volume, wind/weather conditions, pilot technique, and air traffic controller instructions.
Most touch-and-goes are assigned by air traffic control to the shorter, south parallel runway, leaving the longer parallel runway to the north for larger aircraft.
Touch-and-go operations are common at RMMA and flown by both general aviation pilots and flight school students based at RMMA, as well as by visiting pilots from around the region.
Training
An example of a flight conducting touch-and-goes is shown in red on the map at the left. This flight departed RMMA on March 18, 2020.
After several flights around the airport pattern, the aircraft departed the area.
Approach Corridors
Typical approach paths for aircraft flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) are depicted in orange on the map. These paths are most commonly used by turboprop and jet arrivals into RMMA. Smaller aircraft operating under IFR conditions may also use these paths. Variations in arrival paths may occur based on weather, air traffic conditions, or air traffic control instructions.
Most flights at RMMA operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). When operating under visual flight rules, pilots arriving at RMMA are guided by air traffic control. While aircraft arriving under instrument flight rules normally use specific, published paths to the airport, flight paths for VFR aircraft are much more varied. Flight paths to the airport will vary based on conditions including weather, traffic volume, and pilot/controller technique.
Residents should be aware that in most cases, aircraft operating under VFR will have shorter, more direct approach paths to RMMA.
Departure Corridors
Typical departure routes for aircraft flying under IFR are depicted in orange on the map. Air traffic controllers are required to guide IFR departures within the area depicted in the graphic. Multiple headings may be issued by air traffic control, but they must be within the area shared on the map. The flight paths selected will vary based on factors including the runway used, aircraft type, destination, and air traffic.
Aircraft may also depart using visual flight rules (VFR). When departing under visual flight rules, there are no specified or prescribed departure routes from RMMA. Instead, when the pilot requests permission to depart, air traffic control will instruct pilot what runway to use and what direction to fly after taking-off.
Flight Practice Area
The location of practice areas are not designated or assigned by Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. The image above depicts sample flight corridors to and from a flight practice area.
The airspace around RMMA available for practice maneuvers is limited by a number of factors including densely populated communities to the south, Denver International Airport’s Airspace to the east, and mountainous terrain to the west. Based on these factors, the airspace over northern Boulder and Larimer Counties has become a popular location for practicing flight maneuvers.
Who regulates the airspace, flight operations and aircraft noise?
Jefferson County owns and operates RMMA. However, neither Jefferson County nor the airport have jurisdiction over airspace or aircraft in flight. In the United States, the federal government maintains regulatory authority over the national airspace, pilots, flight operations, airports, and aircraft noise.
Air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are responsible controlling the airspace and aircraft around RMMA. Air traffic controllers direct aircraft in and out of RMMA. Their primary responsibility is to ensure the safe and efficient use of the airspace.
Aircraft noise is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Federal regulations define the allowable noise levels associated with aircraft operations. Aircraft noise standards are established by the Federal Aviation Administration and aircraft manufacturers must ensure their aircraft meet these standards.
Under federal regulations, airport operators may implement noise abatement ground procedures which apply to aircraft activity on the airport surface, but they may not implement mandatory procedures that apply to aircraft in flight which falls under federal authority. Airports may implement voluntary procedures such as preferred flight routes and voluntary nighttime curfews, but these cannot be imposed as mandatory and penalties for violations may not be applied.
Public airports in the United States are considered public assets and part of the National Airspace System. Much like the federal highway system, the NAS including public airports, must remain open and available on a 24x7 basis. Access restrictions such as limitations on the type of aircraft, number of operations, or time-of-day the airport may be used are strictly limited under federal regulations. Based on this, most airport noise programs include voluntary measures, requiring collaboration among the airport, airport-users, and local communities.
In an effort to address noise concerns, the FAA has suggested that the airport form a Community Roundtable with neighboring municipalities to address noise concerns and explore strategies to mitigate such issues. Louisville and Superior are currently working with RMMA to establish a Community Roundtable with other nearby jurisdictions.
Noise Mitigation Project
Noise Abatement Signage at RMMA
In 2019 Louisville partnered with Superior to hire a consulting team with specialized experience in working with communities and airports to address noise issues. The consultants reviewed current conditions, flight procedures, airspace and land uses around RMMA to identify practices and procedures aimed at reducing impacts to both communities.
To learn more, please visit the City’s RMMA webpage at https://www.louisvilleco.gov/residents/rocky-mountain-metropolitan-airport .
For More Information
Still have questions or concerns about aircraft operations or noise? We’re here to help.
Airport Noise Concerns – Call RMMA: 303-271-4874
