Longmont Resident In Lawsuit Calls Skydiving Plane 'Penetrating' & 'Debilitating'
LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4) - A trial started Monday against Boulder County's Mile-Hi Skydiving, which takes passengers up in a Twin Otter plane that's become the source of years of controversy.
Mile-Hi Skydiving has been operating out of Vance Brand Airport in Longmont for nearly 20 years. The plaintiffs in the case acknowledge they live near an airport, but argue the company's Twin Otter plane creates excessive noise.
"It's our lives. We are subject to this 13 hours a day during the summer for the entire summer. It's penetrating, it's debilitating," said Ingrid Moore.
Moore lives near the airport and is part of the Citizens for Quiet Skies group, which joined six others in filing suit against Mile-Hi. They hope the court can intervene to make the company change its practices, or stop using the Twin Otter altogether.
Moore said she built her home knowing full well she would hear planes flying overhead.
"What we did not sign up for was a skydiving operation that continuously circles with a loud airplane," Moore said.
Mile-Hi's supporters packed a Boulder County district courtroom Monday wearing ribbons with a likeness of the Twin Otter plane in question. Company leaders declined to speak on camera, but issued a statement that said, "We take our responsibility to be a good neighbor seriously."
The trial expected to last all week. The judge will have to decide whether courts can intervene or of it's a matter only the Federal Aviation Administration can decide.
