The Federal Aviation Administration has modified the Class E airspace at Cortez Municipal Airport, effective Aug. 7, to improve safety and efficiency amid growing air traffic.
The changes were cited as part of a broader effort to update airspace designations at regional airports nationwide, address increased instrument flight rules operations and evolving navigational technology.
Cortez Municipal Airport, despite not having a control tower, serves scheduled airlines, private and commercial charters, as well as hosting flight training and more.
Increases of Instrument Flight Rules traffic at the airport is part of what prompted the FAA to revise its airspace. The updated Class E airspace is controlled by Denver Center radar controllers and extend from the surface during specific hours. It will transition to Class G, uncontrolled up to 700 feet above the surface, outside those times. This dynamic airspace structure mirrors regional airports at neighboring airports like those in Durango, Alamosa, Montrose and Hayden.
The FAA’s modifications expand the Class E airspace dimensions to ensure safer operations, particularly because of the airport’s challenging terrain and outdated airspace design. Denver Center will continue to monitor IFR traffic, providing separation services and traffic advisories for visual flight rules aircraft.
The revised airspace includes several dimensional modifications that expand the Class E controlled airspace.
“The airspace modifications are an indicator of the increasing prioritization of improving the National Airspace System,” Airport Director Jeremy Patton told The Journal. “These modifications, in many cases, are overdue. There will be little to no impact to passenger experience as compared to certain flight operations for pilots and controllers, but the assurance that airspace is a key component of flight safety is worth noting.”
The FAA’s action is part of a nationwide initiative to evaluate and modernize airspace, including smaller regional airports with commercial service. Many of these facilities, like Cortez Municipal Airport, operate in environments that can shift based on operational needs.
The modifications also accounts for the unique topography surrounding Cortez, where terrain poses additional challenges for pilots navigating under IFR conditions.
The FAA’s rulemaking process, detailed in the Federal Register on April 14, incorporated public input and aeronautical data to finalize the airspace adjustments. The updated designations will be reflected in navigational charts by August, providing pilots with clear guidance for operations in Cortez.
