Rocky Mountain Metro Tops U.S. Safety Incident List, FAA Memo Finds

(COLORADO) Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield now sits at the center of a national safety conversation after a recently circulated FAA memo, reported by CBS Colorado in September 2025, named the busy general-aviation field as having the most safety incidents in the country. The memo, drawn from official FAA documentation, did not provide a count, but its characterization alone has pushed federal regulators, airport leaders, flight schools, and pilots to reassess how operations proceed on the ground and in the air.

While officials stress that the label doesn’t mean the airport is unsafe for travelers, it signals that safety systems and day-to-day practices demand closer attention and likely changes.

What the FAA memo says and why it matters

• The memo focuses on reported events such as runway incursions, near-misses, accidents, and other operational hazards. These reports are common tools to catch risks early and improve procedures.
• According to reporting, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (also known as Rocky Mountain Metro or BJC) has surpassed all other U.S. airports for reported safety incidents during the period reviewed by the agency.
• The memo does not publish an incident count, but its designation typically triggers increased oversight, audits, and targeted safety actions.

The memo’s label—most safety incidents in the country—reflects pattern recognition and serves as a call to action rather than an immediate declaration that the airport is unsafe.

Local operational context at BJC

• BJC serves general aviation, corporate aviation, and limited commercial traffic and sits at the edge of Denver’s rapid growth corridor.
• The airport has a unique mix of factors that increase complexity:
  • High-altitude terrain and variable weather
  • A strong flight training presence
  • Frequent corporate jet operations
  • Use of parallel runways and nearby practice areas feeding into the Front Range
• On some days, movement counts can rival mid-size fields with scheduled airline service due to intense training and transient traffic.

Typical FAA responses and likely fixes

FAA officials generally avoid immediate punitive actions and instead pursue corrective steps such as:

1. Increased oversight and targeted audits
2. Additional training for air traffic controllers and airport operators
3. Engineering or procedural changes:
   • Adjustments to taxiway markings, runway signage, and lighting
   • Revisions to arrival/departure procedures or pattern scheduling
   • Temporary caps or spacing rules for touch-and-go operations during peak times

Examples of practical fixes

• Schedule pattern work to reduce simultaneous training and corporate arrivals.
• Introduce stricter spacing for touch-and-go operations during high-intensity windows.
• Improve hold-short paint, signage, and lighting at known hotspots.

Human and system contributors to incident spikes

• Incident spikes often result from a combination of human and system factors:
  • Student pilots under pressure may miss readbacks.
  • Visiting crews unfamiliar with local procedures can taxi incorrectly at night.
  • Controllers may issue last-second clearances to maintain flow.
• Any one event doesn’t prove a broken system, but a pattern of similar events indicates areas needing attention.

Guidance for pilots using BJC

Pilots can take immediate, practical steps to reduce risk:

1. Review local NOTAMs each day.
2. Plan ground routes before engine start using updated diagrams; mark hotspots.
3. Standardize radio phraseology and complete full readbacks for hold shorts and runway assignments.
4. Slow down during taxi and communications—avoid rushed readbacks or maneuvers.
5. Brief a go-around or rejected takeoff plan before departure.

These habits reduce the likelihood individual crews contribute to incident statistics.

Guidance for air traffic control

• Provide clear, unambiguous instructions and avoid last-second changes.
• Space pattern aircraft proactively and use consistent runway crossing procedures.
• If frequency congestion is an issue, publish recommended call timing and discourage non-essential chatter.
• Consider progressive taxi or temporary “follow-me” support at known hotspots until permanent fixes are implemented.

Tools for airport management

• Implement enhanced markings, high-contrast hold-short bars, refreshed signage, and improved lighting.
• Realign taxiway geometry where complexity persists.
• Consider a voluntary reservation system for pattern time during prime hours to smooth demand.
• Coordinate simplified pattern procedures for training periods while maintaining flexibility for business jets.

Community engagement and transparency

• Publish monthly safety dashboards summarizing incident types, time-of-day patterns, and corrective steps.
• Hold community forums that include pilots, controllers, and neighbors to explain data and procedures.
• Share maps showing hotspots and timelines for engineering or procedural fixes to build trust.

When residents learn that an “incident” can be a corrected readback, and pilots learn about how close-in traffic affects neighborhoods, both sides gain perspective and can work toward practical solutions.

Training, international students, and seasonal surges

• BJC serves many flight students, including those who come from overseas and other U.S. regions.
• Analysis (VisaVerge.com) shows training hubs can experience seasonal surges that raise workload for new pilots and instructors.
• Schools can respond by:
  • Pacing solo training
  • Pairing newer students with more experienced instructors during peak windows
  • Rotating practice to nearby airports to spread demand

Broader lessons for other airports

• If BJC’s incident clusters point to runway intersections or radio congestion, other fields should review similar hotspots now.
• The FAA often shares best practices across airports after high-profile reviews; lessons from BJC may become national guidance.

Important nuance: reporting vs. safety

• Higher reporting can indicate a strong safety culture that logs near-misses to prevent worse outcomes.
• But topping a national list elevates the need to lower actual event rates—not just increase reporting.

Colorado comparisons

• Denver International (DEN) passed FAA inspections with full compliance and was not flagged for unusual issues this year.
• Centennial Airport and Fort Morgan Municipal Airport had events in 2025 but were not national outliers.
• The BJC spotlight appears tied to its specific traffic mix and procedures rather than a statewide trend.

Programs and resources

• The FAA supports tools such as runway safety teams, hotspot geometry reviews, and outreach campaigns to reduce:
  • Runway incursions
  • Blocked frequencies
  • Traffic conflicts
• For official guidance, the FAA’s Runway Safety page is available: FAA Runway Safety

What airport leadership commonly does next

Typical immediate actions include:

• Launching a safety stand-down: briefings where tenants and users review procedures.
• Meeting with chief flight instructors to coordinate pattern altitudes, entry points, and crosswind practices.
• Publishing local best practices and preferred taxi routes for peak periods.

What to expect in the short term

• More audits, safety meetings, and local notices rather than sudden caps on training—initial FAA approach is collaborative.
• If incident counts don’t fall, stricter measures may follow.

Final perspective: turning scrutiny into improvement

• The memo does not call BJC unsafe; it marks a stage where risks must be managed more tightly.
• Success will look like:
  • Fewer runway incursions and near-misses
  • Cleaner readbacks and smoother taxi flows
  • Adequate controller staffing and tools during peak surges
  • Transparent, plain-language updates to build community confidence

One line from the memo anchors this story: Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport led the nation in reported safety incidents during the period reviewed. That explains the urgency and points the way forward: transparent data, targeted fixes, and shared responsibility. If BJC and its partners turn scrutiny into action, the airport can reduce incidents and rebuild confidence—one practical step at a time.