By Dave Elliott, Airport Manager
There are no construction projects for Meadow Lake this year. However, a major public ramp renovation is in the plans for next year.
The Colorado Division of Aeronautics has published the 2025 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study. The following excerpt applies to this airport: “Meadow Lake is one of 66 public use airports that contributes to the State’s aviation economic impact. To understand how FLY (Meadow Lake’s aviation identification) and other airports support economic activity, the Colorado Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics undertook the 2025 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study. The study determined that FLY generated the below total economic activity in 2023. Of the 54.1 million of total business revenues generated by FLY, $45.1 million were generated by on-airport activities and $8.6 million generated by visitor spending.”
FLY economic activity: 248 jobs, $16.8M total payroll, $29.2M total value added — $54.1M total business revenues
Meadow Lake is committed to remaining a community friendly grassroots general aviation airport.
Learn-to-Fly Day
On May 17, EAA Chapter 72 hosted a public event for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s “Learn-to-Fly Week.” Flight schools throughout the area were present, as well as displays by Life Flight, Children’s Hospital Flight Team, Colorado State Patrol, Civil Air Patrol and others. The event was held on the transient ramp at 13550 Piper Lane, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: https://chapters.eaa.org/EAA72/Eagles-Flights.
Meadow Lake Activities Center
The EAA Chapter has restarted their annual “Young Eagles” program (March-November). Volunteers fly 30 to 35 youth (ages 8-17) for free 15-minute introductory flights on the second Saturday each month (weather permitting). Reservations can be made online at https://www.EAA72.org. The center is at 13550 Piper Lane.
During the weekend of May 2 to May 4, the Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol hosted “Warrior Weekend” at Meadow Lake. This is a training event for Emergency Services for cadet programs. Cadets and senior members earned several types of Emergency Services Certifications and participated in orientation flights.
The American Navion Society is having their annual national fly-in to Meadow Lake this year, June 8 to June 14. In addition to visiting local tourist attractions, they will be conducting training and competitive flying events throughout the week.
Falcon AeroLab “Aviation Center of Excellence” continues to grow their aviation STEM program (grades 7-12). This summer, they will be offering seven youth “camps.” Visit https://www.falconaerolab.org for additional details and costs:
June 2-6 — Cyber Security Camp
June 9-13 —- FlyVenture Camp
June 16-20 — Glider Camp
June 23-27 — Intro to CAD (computer-aided design) Camp
July 14-18 — Intro to Programming & Robotics Camp
July 28-Aug 1 — Advanced CAD Camp
Meadow Lake Soaring Center
High Flights Soaring Club, Soaring Eagle Foundation and Falcon AeroLab are expanding their glider programs, with both tow planes now operational. “Discovery Flights” with High Flights are available for purchase at https://highflights.com .
Editor’s note: Our apologies to Dave Elliott — this information should have been published in our May issue. We posted the May activities on our Facebook page and in an email blast to our subscribers so we hope the information reached our readers.
