The Front Range Airport is an incredible story of an airport that continued to grow
in spite of overwhelming opposition.
The Airport was caught in a controversy prior to the opening of Denver International Airport regarding air cargo, a controversy that fueled funding and set the stage for its growth. With 3,900 acres of land, two 8,000’ runways capable of expanding to 10,000’ and three full-precision instrument landing systems (ILS) the Airport had no choice but to develop to accommodate large aircraft.
Not one dollar of private investment was put into the Airport until 1994 when the first nested t-hangar was constructed, resulting in a continuous succession of hangar construction. Private developers have invested over $27 million in hangar projects, which house the Airports 400+ based aircraft. One of the most recent projects known as H2 is a hangar capable of accommodating the Gulfstream G550, and two commercial hangars are under construction and will be completed by late summer 2008.
Frontier Airlines' first attempt to build a Heavy Maintenance Facility began in 1996 and continued until 2007, in spite of the economic benefit that would incur to the greater metropolitan area, each attempt failed to get the necessary support.
September 11, 1997 the Front Range Airport Authority hosted a Study Session and stakeholders, including the FAA and DIA reviewed the history of Front Range and articulated a vision for Airport in the form of a Mission Statement and defined key goals for its growth:
The Front Range Airport Authority will not seek regularly scheduled passenger service. The future expansion will be directed to General Aviation and Air Cargo. Incremental expansion based on growing use by General Aviation will continue to be the focus of the Front Range Airport...
In addition to the "Mission Statement" three primary goals were set:
The completion of 56th Avenue was a public/private partnership between Adams County, Aurora and TransPort. In an act of jurisdictional cooperation Denver's mayor took part in the ground breaking ceremonies. The City of Aurora assisted the Airport with the construction of a water system and most recently gave its concurrence and approval of moving the site of a future regional waste water system on to Airport property. Denver supported an air traffic control tower at Front Range and the tallest general aviation Air Traffic Control Tower in the United States was constructed in 2005.
The ATCT was a sign that the Airport was serious about developing as an economic engine, prompting Aviation Technology Group, to select Front Range as its interim assembly and test flight facility for the Javelin aircraft. In anticipation of a workforce that would grow between 200-300, the Airport upgraded its snack bar to a Café and accepted the challenge of building an on-airport waste water system. A Water and Wastewater Plan for Front Range Airport and Surrounding Area was prepared in 2001 and identified the construction of an Aurora wastewater plant based on Airport and TransPort build out. TransPort failed to keep pace with the Airport, leaving an on-airport facility as the only solution to meet anticipated growth.
The Airport had chicken-n-egg opportunity beginning in 1999, when the owner of a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) began negotiations to base the large aircraft at the Front Range Airport. The FAA responded by funding a parking pad for the aircraft, but unfortunately the owner of the aircraft died in an aircraft accident June 2001. Had the general aviation BBJ been based at the Airport, the FAA would have funded runway length and strength improvements, resulting in a much stronger economic engine than exists today. Front Range is an ideal site for Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, which would benefit DIA as well as the metro area and state with primary jobs. The lack of runway strength has also been nationally Detrimental as the 5th Battalion 19th Special Forces Group (airborne), which is based on Front Range Airport, cannot be supported by C-130 aircraft, their ride of choice.
Nationwide, and at the Front Range Airport, general aviation operations (takeoff or landing) and fuel purchases are declining dramatically, which not only affects the Airport's revenues but may add to the Airport's cost of operation if it is forced to bear a portion of the operation of its contract tower.
If the Front Range Airport had full strength runways as originally envisioned it would be a major center for logistics and industrial development. The relocation of truck and rail facilities from the greater Denver area would solve some metro congestion problems. Additionally Denver would be positioned for a NASCAR track. With infrastructure in place Front Range would fully meet its role as a general aviation reliever, thereby assuring that DIA had the necessary long-term capacity to be the region's "Port" to the world.
Front Range has worked diligently to attract a "driver." Through no fault of the Airport the BBJ and Aviation Technology Group's Javelin did not materialize, Frontier Airlines did not select the Airport for its maintenance facility and TransPort's intermodal facility is going to Fort Lupton. But the Airport does not see its glass as half empty but half full because it now represents a public/private partnership of over $102 million with all the necessary infrastructure to accommodate a large scope project. Most recently Excel Energy completed a $4 million electric substation in anticipation of the growth that is just around the corner.
A growth opportunity was introduced to the Airport in early 2006 when a low cost carrier identified Front Range as meeting its criteria of serving high density markets through secondary airports. Not willing to leave any stone unturned, the fall 0f 2007, the Front Range Airport Authority engaged the services of special counsel to form an opinion on the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) dated February 5, 1992, between Adams County, Denver and the Front Range Airport, concerning scheduled passenger service.
The result was a determination that the most logical way for the Airport to grow is to open the Airport to scheduled passenger service. The next two years will be critical for the Airport as a window of opportunity exists, whereby private funds are available to take the Airport to its next level of growth.
Front Range has yet to lose sight of its initial objective, which is to create an economic engine. An engine fueled by becoming a prominent multi modal cargo hub, accommodating large general aviation and cargo aircraft. Passenger service is just another avenue to the ultimate goal.
