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Vance Brand needs new path as transportation hub, councilmember says

Waters wants new goals for the airport
2018-09-29 09.15.37
Airplane at Vance Brand Airport (Photo by Rick Brennan)

Longmont’s Vance Brand Airport needs to chart a new path to take advantage of advances in aviation technologies and the facility’s unique position on the Front Range, a Longmont City Councilmember said this week.

“I would like us to turn to aviation experts we have in our community.. and find out what’s happening in airport development and with new forms of aviation,” Councilmember Tim Waters said . “Rather than look at things horizontally, what’s best in class in the country in terms of airports being economic engines that help elevate all the boats.”

Vance Brand should expand its role as a regional transportation hub for smaller aircraft that could shuttle business leaders from local companies to meetings within a 500-mile radius. Using Vance Brand would spare companies the expense of flying commercial while saving fuel and environmental impacts, Water said.

“I’d like to make municipal airports like Vance Brand be part of a broader transportation solution,” Water said. “You could fly from Longmont to Casper or Scottsbluff for a meeting in the morning and be back home that night for dinner.”

The airport, he said, should work with Longmont Economic Development Partnership and be part of its transportation “connectivity” plan, to offer residents options to getting to work and back.

Longmont should also examine the burgeoning development of electric-powered aircraft that could cut noise complaints, Waters said. “Let’s just start having that conversation,” he said.

Waters said last week’s annual report of activity at Vance Brand Airport was a solid start but it didn’t include hard goals that the airport could measure progress, including revenue generation. 

“At some point, we have to have serious talks … about what is possible at the airport … and have objectives that are measurable toward accomplishing that goal,” Waters said.

The airport — which sits on about 270 acres — generated $521,216 last year from hangar rentals and other sources. The airport’s expenses were over $316,000, Airport Manager David Slayter told the city council.

Councilmember Marcia Martin told Slayter the airport should tap more sources of revenue including higher hangar rental charges.

The report to the city council states there is a long term vision for the facility, which is a primary business transportation hub for Boulder County. Vance Brand will continue to increase its economic development vitality for the city of Longmont through continued development, maintaining infrastructure, community involvement and marketing strategies,” the report states.