FAQ

Q. Are there shuttles available?

A. Yes, there are two shuttle available from FNL.

Both Groome Transportation and Landline allow you to park and ride from our airport to Denver International Airport. 

Q. Who manages the parking lot?

A. There are two parking lots with separate management.

• The airline terminal lot is managed and maintained by the City of Loveland. This lot is reserved for charter flight customers. Questions for this lot should be directed to Airport administration at 970-962-2862.
• The parking lots to the east of the Terminal parking lot are managed and maintained by Groome Transportation and Landline.

Q. Where do I go for my shuttle at FNL?

A. Groome Transportation customers should head to the east lot with the bus shelter.

Landline customers should head to the farthest east parking lot. 

Free wi-fi and restrooms are available at the Blue Terminal building for all customers.

Q. Who do I contact for lost and found?

A. Groome Transportation customers should call the Fort Collins office at 970-226-5533. Landline customers can reach representatives at 1-888-428-1149.

Q. When was FNL Airport established?

A. The Airport was founded in 1963 with operations beginning in 1964.

Q. What are the Airport Stats?

A. Current information about the Airport may be found here.

Q. What Class Airspace is Northern Colorado Regional Airport?

A. Towered Class E airspace.

Q. What’s the largest aircraft the Airport can accommodate?

A. Boeing 757

Q. How many cars can your parking lot accommodate?

A. 500

Q. How many people can your terminal accommodate?

A. 175

Q. How big is the Airport?

A. 1,050 acres

Q. How many operations (landings and takeoffs) does the Airport have?

A. Current information may be found here.

Q. What is the cost of aviation fuel?

A. Fuel services are managed by an on-Airport business, Fort Collins-Loveland jetCenter, you may find their prices published at: www.airnav.com/airport/KFNL  

Q. How do I schedule an introductory flight?

A. Contact one of our flight schools directly to inquire about introductory flights. On-Airport businesses are listed on our Directory at www.flynoco.com/about/business-directory.

Q. How do I obtain Airport access?

A. Federal regulations require access control and security measures at the Airport. In order to obtain an access badge, a security background check and driver’s training test are required. You must be at least 12 years old to apply. Applications and training manual are available on our site at: www.flynoco.com/pilot-resources/badging.

Q. How do I hire a pilot or charter an airplane?

A. For a list of air charter operators in Colorado you can see the list at: www.aircharterguide.com; however, please note as a public airport facility, charter operators are not required to be from Colorado to fly here.

Q. How do I apply for a job at the Airport?

A. Please see the City of Loveland’s Employment Opportunities page to see available positions and internships for Airport administration.

You may find contact information for all the businesses that operate on the Airport on our Business Directory page here, please apply directly with them for any available positions they may have.  Additional airports with internship programs may also be found on CDOT Aeronautics’ page at: www.codot.gov/programs/aeronautics/internships.

Q. Can I arrange an Airport tour?

A. For tours we suggest you contact the following businesses: Jet Center, Leading Edge, The Flying School, and/or AIMs Community College Flight Training to see about a possible partnership for your event. You may find their contact information on our business directory page at: www.flynoco.com/home/about/business-directory.

For Airport operations and administration tours based on operational availability contact us at Airport@cityofloveland.org.

Public viewing is available from the parking lot on the north side of the terminal building, for those who just wish to see aircraft as they takeoff, land, or taxi.

Q. How can I get involved in Aviation?

A. 

STEM Flights – Pairs middle school to high school youth with aviation mentors to teach them to fly! www.stemflights.org
Civil Air Patrol – Thompson Valley Composite: www.tvcseagles.com
EAA Chapter 515: www.515.eaachapter.org
FNL Pilot’s Association: www.fnlpilots.org

Q. Who governs airspace over my property?

A. According to 49 U.S.C. section 40103:

“The United States Government has exclusive sovereignty of airspace of the United States and the FAA has the authority to prescribe air traffic regulations on the flight of aircraft, including UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems aka “drones”).”

Q. Isn’t my local school/my neighborhood in restricted airspace/why are aircraft flying above us?

A. Only the white house, active military bases, or areas defined by Federal regulations are in restricted airspace. You may see restricted or prohibited special use airspace on the FAA’s website for temporary restricted airspace tfr.faa.gov/tfr_map_ims/html.

Q. Why do aircraft take off and land at early and late hours?

A. Similar to public interstates and highways being within the public right-of-way the same applies to airspace and there are no time restrictions for traffic on the road or in the air. Jet aircraft operate in the early morning and late-evening hours for various reasons. Many are medical flights with patients or critical organs on board. Other flights involve corporations and businesses based near the airport.

Q. Why MUST the planes fly over my subdivision?

A. While the Airport encourages visual flight rules (VFR) traffic to avoid subdivisions; these procedures are not mandatory and will soon be impossible to perform. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determines the safest route for instrument flight rules (IFR) aircraft to follow with respect to terrain avoidance and airspace procedures. The Airport can not change them, and does not have control over aircraft after they leave the Airport’s runways. Air traffic controllers prioritize flight safety and the preservation of life over all other concerns.

Q. Why can’t planes climb higher before flying over residential areas?

A. Airplanes at this altitude (5,017 feet above sea level) do not perform as well as they do at lower elevations. This means they can not climb as quickly because they are less efficient in the thinner air. The result can be more noise because planes must fly closer to the ground for longer periods.

Q. Can Northern Colorado Regional Airport change flight patterns?

A. While the Airport can and does make recommendations, ultimately the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls the flight paths and aircraft routing into and out of every airport to ensure safety of operations in relation to the geography present. Ultimately, geography and orientation of existing runways is not something that can be altered.

Q. Noise Complaints

A. Noise complaints can be filed directly with the FAA. The FAA will not respond to the same general complaint or inquiry from the same individual more than once. The same general complaint or inquiry is one that does not differ in general principal from a previous complaint, and that would generate the same FAA response.

The most efficient way to reach the FAA with your noise concern is to fill the form below or send an email to 9-anm-noise@faa.gov  with your full name, address, email address, and a brief description of your concern. Or you may call the FAA’s Northwest Mountain Regional Office’s noise information line at 206-231-4202.

Submit a noise complaint to the FAA

Q. An aircraft is flying very low. What can be done?

A. Aircraft may legally fly at altitudes that some residents find annoying or believe to be unsafe. The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all aircraft maintain a minimum altitude of 500-feet above ground-level aside from takeoffs and landings. With exception for helicopters which have no altitude limitations.

The Federal Aviation Administration has regulatory authority over aircraft in flight. Airport operators have no legal authority over aircraft in flight. Concerns about low flying aircraft should be directed to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is responsible for investigating low-flying or unsafe flight incidents with a written complaint.

Further information on the minimum legal altitudes contained in FAR Part 91 and how to log a low-flying aircraft complaint can be found at Denver Flight Standards District Office – General Information. To report a low flying aircraft that are not approaching or departing Northern Colorado Regional Airport, please call the Flight Standards District Office at 1-800-847-3808.

You may read more about the FAA’s regulations on low flying aircraft here.

FAA’s minimums for reporting non-compliant aircraft:

• Identification – Can you identify the aircraft? Was it military or civil? Did you record the registration number which appears on the fuselage or tail? (On U.S. registered aircraft, that number will be preceded with a capital “N” and it is required to be at least 12″ high unless it is an experimental aircraft). Your complaint must have a record such as photo and/or video and cannot be by automation (online tracking).
• Time and Place – What date and time did the incident(s) occur? Where did this happen? What direction was the aircraft flying.
• Altitude – How high or low was the aircraft flying? On what do you base your estimate? Was the aircraft level with or below the elevation of a prominent object such as a tower or building or other landmark?

Note: Minimum altitudes DO NOT apply to helicopters or aircraft associated with the military, State, local government, flight for life, or any landings and takeoffs which may occur any where the pilot has permission to operate (public airports, private air strips, or private land).

Complaints associated with those agencies must be sent to them directly:

• Military aircraft complaints should be filed with the base the operator is from.
  • Warren Air Force Base: www.warren.af.mil/Contact-us/Contact-Us
  • Peterson Space Force: www.peterson.spaceforce.mil/Public-Affairs
  • Colorado National Guard: co.ng.mil/Contact-Us/Common-Phone-Numbers
  • Fort Carson:  719-526-9849 or usarmy.carson.hqda-ocpa.list.pao-comrel@army.mil
• State Patrol complaints may be sent through their form on their complaint page or directly emailed to: cdps.csp.professionalstandards@state.co.us
• Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control complaints for SEAT (Single Engine Air Attack) base activities may be submitted at dfpc.colorado.gov/contact-us or 303-239-4600
• The three closest heliports in our area are MCR, 970-624-1050, Banner Fort Collins 970-810-6959, or McKee 970-820-6716

If the aircraft operator is non-compliant with FAA regulations and also operating from our Airport we will do our best to assist you in addressing the issue(s) that may be occurring. Please note, the FAA’s minimum reporting guidelines are critical in order to assist you, send that information to airport@cityofloveland.org. Also keep in mind, that the offending aircraft may have originated from another facility or even private land.

The Flight Standards District Office is not responsible for addressing aircraft noise concerns. See the question above on how to report noise concerns.

Q. Who regulates UAS operations?

A. FAA regulates the nation’s airspace, www.faa.gov/uas. 

Q. Who do I call to report hazardous UAS operations or to make a complaint regarding UAS operations in our region?

A. The local FSDO office at: 1-800-847-3808 or email, Local/state laws ALSO apply so you should contact your local police department as well: www.faa.gov/uas/public_safety_gov, i.e. peeping tom law

Q. Do local/state laws apply to UAS operations?

A. Yes, all laws apply to UAS operations regardless of operator ignorance. It is the responsibility of all UAS pilots to ensure you are in compliance with all laws (Federal www.faa.gov/uas/public_safety_gov; State Colorado, County Larimer, Weld; or local Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Johnstown, Windsor, etc…) prior to operating your drone. 

Q. What Class Airspace is FNL?

A. Towered class E, once the Colorado Remote Tower is fully certified the class will then become Class D.

Q. Who do I notify of my UAS/drone operations?

A. Automatic approvals can be completed through LAANC; if you are unable to receive an automatic approval, have a waiver, etc… then you will need to obtain manual approval through the FAA: DroneZone. See full details on the FAA’s website at:  www.faa.gov/uas you may also contact the FAA’s UAS team at UAShelp@faa.gov or call 844-FLY-MY-UA (1-844-959-6982).

Q. How do I get blanket approval for my UAS/drone operations?

A. Requests for a Waiver/​Airspace Authorization for Commercial Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) may only be granted by the FAA at: www.faa.gov/uas/request_waiver. Please note this form should only be used to request waivers or airspace authorizations under Title 14 CFR Part 107; it is NOT for modelers or hobbyists flying in accordance with the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (P.L. 112-95, Section 336). You may likely need to still obtain clearance through LAANC, please check the FAA site to learn more.

Q. Do you have pre-check at FNL?

A. The Northern Colorado Regional Airport does not have pre-check enrollment available here. You can use PreCheck’s locator link for the closest location. The closest location is in Fort Collins at:

IdentoGO
2121 Midpoint Dr, Ste 301 B
Fort Collins, CO 80525

Q. How do I report a laser incident?

A. The FAA needs everyone’s help in reporting laser incidents. If you are the victim of a laser incident or you witness a laser incident, please report it to FAA at www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/report/laserinfo

Q. Where is your pet quarantine/where do I pick up my puppy/how do I contact the puppy transport company at the Airport?

A. The Northern Colorado Regional Airport does NOT have a pet quarantine area. Please do your research before sending funds to someone claiming to have a pet or puppy to send to you. If you have already sent funds and are no longer able to contact the “breeder” or “seller” then you may be a victim of fraud, please contact your local police department to file a report and file a report with the FTC. You can read more about identifying puppy scams at the ASPCA and the BBB websites.

If you are a volunteer or foster family with a local puppy rescue group you will need to contact your organization’s coordinator. 

Q. Can I rent the Airport for an event?

A. The Northern Colorado Regional Airport is owned by both Cities of Fort Collins and Loveland but operationally we are a Department within the City of Loveland. City Department buildings are not available for rental except for those already intended for such purposes. The area within the fence is identified as the secured area of the Airport and would not be available per TSA security requirements. Facility rental information for each City may be found at:

• Fort Collins: www.fcgov.com/recreation/rentals
• Loveland: www.cityofloveland.org/services/public-works/facilities-management

Q. Do you provide historical weather data?

A. You may find weather history from National Weather Services.

Q. We are looking for donations/sponsorship to our organization/non-profit/religious group/etc…

A. The City Council has sole discretion in making financial contributions to community groups, individual departments, such as the Airport, do not. Applications for assistance are available through the City’s website.