In a surprising twist of events, the ambitious expansion plans at Lakewood Airport have been grounded. But it’s not due to funding issues or local protests. The culprit? Skydiving. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) insists on the inclusion of a skydiving service, a move that has sparked a safety debate and put a halt to millions of dollars in development. The crux lies in the FAA’s insistence on introducing a skydiving service at Lakewood Airport.

A Turbulence in Lakewood Airport’s Expansion Plans

FAA Spokesperson Eva Lee Ngai stated, “Lakewood Municipal Airport a federally obligated airport is required to allow aeronautical uses such as the proposed skydiving operations.” This unexpected twist has sparked a safety debate putting a halt to millions of dollars in development.

The proposed skydiving service is by ISkyDive America, a company with a track record of operating similar services in several cities. The company’s CEO Luther Kurtz defended the FAA’s efforts stating, “According to the FAA skydiving is an aeronautical activity that should be given airport access the same as airplanes helicopters and banner towers.” 

However, airport officials maintain their stance citing safety concerns due to the airport’s proximity to several busy highways and the existing air traffic. “You have 20 planes a day that is making multiple (banner flights)” said Steve Reinman executive director of the Lakewood Industrial Commission that operates the airport. The standoff continues with the airport’s future hanging in the balance. The current standoff over skydiving at Lakewood Airport is not without historical precedent.

History of Skydiving at Lakewood Airport 

The airport was a popular skydiving location during the 1960s and 1970s, but the activity ceased in the early 1980s following several incidents and safety concerns. “In the early ’80s it stopped,” said Steve Reinman executive director of the Lakewood Industrial Commission that operates the airport. “There were some stories and some incidents there may have been one or more accidents, it was privately owned at the time.”

Several skydiver deaths occurred at the airport during this period according to news reports. This history casts a long shadow over the current debate despite the nationwide drop in skydiving deaths as reported by the United States Parachute Association. The airport officials still remain concerned about the safety of reintroducing skydiving at the site.

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While the dispute has not been hostile, the airport officials maintain that they do not believe it is safe to reintroduce skydiving at this location. As a result, the planned improvements at the airport including the construction of a new terminal office space and a restaurant as well as the development of an adjacent 50-acre site have been put on hold. The FAA has stated that no development can proceed until a deal is reached regarding the skydiving service. This situation has effectively blocked millions of dollars in potential development at the Lakewood Airport.

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