If you've been flying in and out of Centennial Airport (KAPA) lately, you've already noticed a few things are different. The tower goes quiet at night, the fuel options have expanded, and the FBO crowd is buzzing about summer plans. Here's your ramp-side rundown of everything going on at one of the nation's busiest GA airports — and a few reasons to get excited about Colorado aviation this season.

Tower Rehab: Mind Your NOTAMs at Night

The most operationally relevant news at KAPA right now is the ongoing control tower rehabilitation. From March 2 through early April 2026, the Centennial Airport tower is closing nightly from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Monday through Thursday, while crews install a new elevator, HVAC system, break room, and restrooms. If you're planning a night departure or arrival during that window, KAPA reverts to a non-towered airport — that means self-announce on CTAF, keep your head on a swivel, and make sure you've pulled the current NOTAMs before you go. The good news: KAPA owns its tower outright, which is relatively rare among airports of its size, and the airport authority has been pushing the FAA for a new, purpose-built tower. More on that as it develops.

ATC staffing is also a watch item. The facility is currently running 15 full-time controllers against a CPC target of 22, with three more in training — well below the levels needed for peak-demand days. Per FAA staffing levels data, the broader controller hiring push can't come fast enough for busy airports like this one. That shortage has contributed to a dip in total operations — preliminary 2025 ops tracked down from 2024, consistent with a full-year figure in the low 300,000s, versus 360,725 in 2023 per Centennial Airport.

Unleaded Avgas: The Quiet Revolution Continues

Colorado made national GA history when KAPA became the first public-use airport in the state to offer UL94 unleaded avgas through jetCenters of Colorado. According to jetCenters of Colorado's May 2025 report, UL94 now accounts for more than 20% of all piston aircraft fuel sold at KAPA — a meaningful milestone for a product that was brand-new on the market just a couple of years ago. The March 2026 airport report notes that 80 percent of KAPA-based flight school aircraft are already certified to run UL94, which tracks: the airport's training traffic is enormous, and getting student aircraft off 100LL faster is a win for everyone, including the neighborhoods under the pattern. Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC) is also getting ready to add unleaded avgas soon, so this option will be spreading across the Front Range.

One wrinkle: KAPA saw unleaded fuel sales dip slightly in early 2026 due to some fuel truck maintenance issues and isolated aircraft performance concerns. Nothing systemic — just the typical growing pains of a new fuel type working through the fleet. If you're flying a piston and haven't checked whether your aircraft is UL94-approved, now is a good time to look it up. The FAA's EAGLE program has a running list.

Mark Your Calendar: Runway 5K on June 6

Every year, Centennial Airport does something that only an airport could pull off: it closes a runway, fills it with people, and holds a 5K race. The 2026 Runway 5K is back on June 6 with the theme "Hotdogs and Airplanes" — which honestly sounds like the perfect Saturday. Registration is open now, and the event brings a growing list of runners every year. Proceeds fund aviation scholarships and youth programs, so it's a good cause with a hard-to-beat backdrop. If you've never jogged past a row of parked twins with jet exhaust lingering in the morning air, put it on your bucket list.

Colorado Fly-Ins and Airshows: The 2026 Season Is Stacked

The Colorado Pilots Association unveiled their 2026 fly-in calendar at the January planning meeting at KBJC, and it's a solid lineup. For pilots who want to stay closer to home, the April 25 trip to Akron, CO (KAKO) is a standout: you'll tour Redline Propeller's shop, get an up-close look at how constant-speed props are rebuilt, and they're feeding everyone lunch. There's also a Nucla (KAIB) trip on the preliminary CPA calendar — the classic Colorado mountain-airport adventure with a mesa-top runway, 360-degree views, and a group dinner on a patio in canyon country. Check CPA's 2026 fly-in page for the confirmed date, and get on the host's list early once it's set.

On the airshow front, Colorado Springs is bringing back the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow at KCOS on September 19-20, 2026, with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels headlining. That's about an hour south of KAPA on the Front Range — a very flyable day trip if you want the ultimate airshow experience. And out west, the Grand Junction Air Show returns October 3-4 at KGJT.

The Noise Picture: What the Numbers Say

If you've been following the KAPA noise story, the airport released its latest community report for early 2026. February logged 515 complaints from 42 households — the bulk of them during daytime hours. Complaint volume was largest in Elbert and Douglas Counties, though those totals came from just a few households (2 and 13 respectively). Centennial and Arapahoe County accounted for the largest share of complaining households overall, per the KAPA February 2026 Noise Report. The airport is rolling out a new "Fly Quiet" dashboard with an expected rollout in spring 2026. The goal is accountability and transparency rather than restriction, and the data-driven approach is the right one. If you fly training ops out of KAPA, worth staying plugged into how those conversations are evolving — the March 2026 CACNR report has the full picture.

The bottom line: KAPA is navigating the same tension every busy GA airport faces — enormous community value versus real noise impacts on the neighborhoods below. The airport seems genuinely committed to working through it collaboratively. That's worth something.

Quick Hits for Front Range Pilots

A few more items worth having on your radar: The FAA's Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study for KAPA is working through the public comment process, with public comment meetings expected later in 2026 — the CACNR meeting calendar will have firm dates when set. If you have thoughts on how the airport manages noise and flight paths, this is your formal opportunity to weigh in. Also, the Colorado Pilots Association maintains updated ForeFlight practice area overlays — check their site for the current version. If you're doing training flights in the Denver metro airspace, download the latest version to make sure you're using the designated boxes and staying off the noise-sensitive routes. Flying the right boxes isn't just courtesy — it's the kind of thing that keeps GA airports from getting restricted.

Spring is the best time to fly in Colorado. The snowpack is still holding in the mountains, mountain wave is real but manageable, and the Front Range afternoons haven't yet turned into the afternoon thunderstorm gauntlet of July. Get out there while the getting's good — and if you're at KAPA, maybe grab a cup of coffee at the FBO and wave to the tower crew. They're running lean, and they're doing a solid job.