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Colorado’s Aims Community College announced Tuesday that it has been designated an Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative institution by the Federal Aviation Administration following an on-site evaluation in January. Aims said it is the first community college approved to offer both terminal and enroute air traffic control training pathways under the program, which is administered by the FAA.

A new survey of Santa Monica voters found broad support for keeping California’s Santa Monica Airport (SMO) open, even as the city continues to plan for its closure at the end of 2028.

AOPA is calling on its 300,000 members to contact their elected officials to stop ADS-B from being used as an ATM for local airport authorities.

For decades, the US Air Force’s Initial Flight Training (IFT) pipeline was closely associated with Pueblo, Colorado. That long-standing relationship is now changing following an $835 million contract award, which shifts much of the early pilot training to new locations in Texas and Georgia. The decision marks a major restructuring of how and where future Air Force pilots begin their careers.

“Colorado is the adventure capital of the United States,” said Rogers, a sports chiropractor who has kayaked, adventure-run and flown glider planes for years. “It’s a shame that seaplane pilots can’t have the same access to waterways that other states provide.”

Aims Community College said Wednesday that it has secured FAA certification for its Aircraft Maintenance Technician program, set to begin in January 2026. The designation makes Aims an official Part 147 aviation maintenance school, authorizing it to deliver the training required for students to test for their Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenses. A certificate presentation ceremony with FAA officials took place December 12 at the school’s newly completed Aircraft Maintenance Training Center at Northern Colorado Regional Airport.

Centennial Airport-based flight school Centennial Flyers has ordered six all-electric Bristell B23 Energic training aircraft powered by Swiss manufacturer H55, becoming the first operator in Colorado to introduce the model and H55’s first U.S. fleet customer. The aircraft are planned for use in the school’s training program.

Funded entirely by aviation fuel taxes, CDOT's aeronautics division helps with airport infrastructure projects

Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (BJC) has seen a notable surge in TCAS resolution alerts and close proximity incidents. A contributing factor to this increase has been a lack of route structure for aircraft entering, exiting, and transitioning the airspace.

Hangar tenants facing an 82-percent rent increase contacted AOPA for help, and when the Denver FBO failed to justify the new rate under the FAA "fair and reasonable" standard, the affected pilots proceeded to file an airport compliance complaint under FAR Part 13.

Colorado aircraft owners now have a new, officially recognized state income tax credit to help offset the cost of transitioning aircraft to unleaded aviation fuel.

A group of hangar lessees at Centennial Airport in Colorado says rent hikes imposed by their FBO landlord violate the airport’s grant assurance limits. In a letter to the FAA, the Association of Town Hangar Tenants is calling for an investigation into the doubling of their rents in 14 months from $600 to $1,200 a month. They claim the increase violates conditions of the grant assurances for airport improvements that hangar rents be “fair and reasonable” and in line with hangar rates at other comparable airports. The group says the rent increases amount to a “constructive denial of access” by pricing the hangars out of the reach of some tenants.

The FAA has implemented a temporary reduction in air traffic control tower hours at RMMA, effective December 28, with operations from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. This change is intended to concentrate staffing during peak daytime periods amid ongoing controller shortages and is expected to last about one year until additional controllers are assigned. A daily ATC Zero NOTAM will reflect day-to-day staffing conditions. The FAA and the Airport emphasize that the adjustment is made in the interest of maintaining airspace safety.

The FAA is asking for public comments on a proposed new voluntary post-checkride survey for pilots following their evaluation by designated pilot examiners (DPEs). Written comments must be submitted by Feb. 27, 2026.