New report shows how Colorado empowered general aviation in 2024 — General Aviation News

2024 marked a transformative year for general aviation in Colorado, as state initiatives reshaped the landscape for pilots, airport operators, and the aviation industry.

According to the Colorado Division of Aeronautics 2024 Annual Report, the state prioritized infrastructure, safety, and unleaded fuel to enhance the state’s aviation system.

The report notes that the Colorado Discretionary Aviation Grant Program (CDAG) awarded $16 million to 38 airports.

General aviation airports benefited significantly, with projects ranging from airfield pavement maintenance at Boulder Municipal Airport to taxiway improvements at Salida’s Harriet Alexander Field.

These projects helped airports leverage an additional $118 million from federal and local sources, underscoring the importance of state-level funding in sustaining aviation infrastructure, the report noted.

The Transition to Unleaded Avgas

New legislation signed by Governor Jared Polis in June 2024 encourages the state’s general aviation airports to transition to unleaded aviation fuel, what the report calls “a bold step toward eliminating leaded aviation fuel.”

The new legislation:

Provides aircraft owners with a state income tax credit for 50% of the cost of obtaining the necessary FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for an aircraft to use an approved unleaded avgas, up to $500 beginning in tax year 2025.

Allocates the lesser of 10% or $1.5 million of the division’s annual discretionary aviation grant program funding to airport projects that support the transition to unleaded avgas.

Specifically provides grant program eligibility for unleaded avgas fueling infrastructure projects, and transitional fuel price subsidy grants to help put the higher cost of unleaded avgas on par with the current leaded avgas cost, until unleaded avgas costs decrease as new fuels are approved and production ramps up.

According to the report, Centennial Airport emerged as a leader in this area, offering Swift Fuel’s UL94 unleaded avgas alongside a $300,000 price subsidy grant to keep fuel costs competitive for pilots.

These efforts align with the FAA’s Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, which aims for a lead-free general aviation by 2030.

Embracing Emerging Technologies

A partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) advanced research into electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered aircraft in the state.

These technologies promise quieter, cleaner operations and could redefine general aviation training in Colorado, offering reduced costs and environmental impacts, according to the report.

A comprehensive study, expected in 2025, will inform airport infrastructure planning and support the deployment of alternatively powered aircraft.

Meanwhile, Colorado’s investment in its Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) network, which includes 47 airport-based units and 13 mountain-based units, played “a critical role in improving flight safety,” according to the year in review.

The airport AWOS network was supported by $65,534 in maintenance funding in 2024, while the Mountain AWOS program received $117,719.

Additionally, the state’s Aviation Education and Workforce Development grants, totaling $459,971 helped cultivate the next generation of aviators and maintenance professionals, according to the report.

To read the full report, go to 2024 Annual Report.