Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Federal Aviation Administration announced Steamboat Springs Airport was in compliance with air safety regulations.

In response to safety concerns raised by American Airlines pilot Warren Harner regarding the length of the airport's runway, the Flight Standards District Office in Denver investigated the airport and determined it was not violating FAA regulations.

Harner, who resides in Steamboat, claimed the length of the runway was insufficient in relation to the size of planes flying into Steamboat.

Harner did extensive research about plane size and runway length, noting the Steamboat airport is at a high elevation and the air is less dense, making it more difficult to take off.

The runway at Steamboat Springs Airport is 4,452 feet long, shorter than what manuals of some planes that use the airport say is needed to be safe at this altitude, Harner claimed.

Additionally, Harner pointed out skid marks at the end of the runway as evidence planes had been forced to abort takeoff but had been unable to do so without skidding off the runway.

The city sent Harner's comments to the Flight Standards office Feb. 7.

On April 22, Eugene Hill, a safety inspector for the district office, notified through a letter that the airport was in compliance.

"The FAA investigates each complaint regarding non-compliance of Federal Aviation Regulations. Based on the information supplied by Mr. Harner, we have found insufficient evidence at this time to support a violation of those regulations," the letter states.

Hill also stated future inspection at the Steamboat airport would continue as planned and City Manger Wendy DuBord said a letter from the FAA was forwarded to Harner.