The Federal Aviation Administration or FAA announced this week that it will hold 11 community meetings to discuss changes in the "Denver Metroplex," or the invisible airline highways serving the area's 7 airports. Naturally, we thought we should go see if we could make those pathways a little more visible.
Metroplexes (metroplexi?) are aviation hotspots that see a lot of traffic due to airline hubs and multiple airports. We are one of ten such areas identified by the FAA.
The agency is working on switching to satellite guidance systems that they say will help streamline air traffic. Not only would this help more planes travel to and from Denver faster, the FAA also estimates it will save a little more than half a million gallons of fuel and keep about 540,000 metric tons of carbon out of the atmosphere.
The public meetings mark just the second stage in a 53-month process to streamline airways across the U.S.
Here are the meetings coming up near Denver:
Monday, April 3, 6-8:30 p.m.: Front Range Airport, Executive FBO Training Room, 37501 Cessna Way, Watkins.
Tuesday, April 4, 6-8:30 p.m.: Aurora Municipal Building Lobby, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora.
Wednesday, April 5, 6-8:30 p.m.: Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St., Erie.
Thursday, April 6, 5-7:30 p.m.: Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center, Community Room B, 4890 N. Argonne Way, Denver.
Monday, April 17, 5:30-8:00 p.m.: Boulder Library Main Branch, Boulder Creek Room, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder.
Tuesday, April 18, 6-8:30 p.m.: City of Greenwood Village, City Hall Community Room, 6060 South Quebec St., Greenwood Village.
Wednesday, April 19, 5:30-8:00 p.m.: Douglas County Library, Parker Branch Event Hall A, 20105 East Main St., Parker.
Thursday, April 20, 6-8:30 p.m.: Chatfield Senior HS, Commons Area, 7227 South Simms St., Littleton.
Monday, May 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Metropolitan State University of Denver, Tivoli Student Union, Baerresen Ballroom, Room 320, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver.
Tuesday, May 2, 6-8:30 p.m.: Rocky Mtn. Metro Airport, Mt. Evans Conference Room, 11755 Airport Way, Broomfield.
Wednesday, May 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Stuart Middle School, Cafetorium, 15955 E. 101st Way, Commerce City.
