FAA Bans Parallel Takeoffs at Centennial Airport Over Safety Risks

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered Centennial Airport in Colorado to halt simultaneous departures from its parallel runways in early October 2026. The decision followed a September 29 safety risk assessment of nine airports nationwide, which identified 60 incidents of aircraft drifting too close during takeoff. At Centennial, the FAA reviewed over 35,500 parallel departures between May 2025 and April 2026, uncovering two hazardous midair near-collisions and nine high-risk major events.

Federal officials classified the airport as high-risk, citing frequent pilot deviations from flight paths that led to unmitigated convergence. In response, the airport has also restricted most pattern work and regular touch-and-go operations. These measures have caused significant delays and increased costs for aircraft owners and flight schools.

The Centennial Airport Authority described the immediate cease order as highly unusual, claiming that neither the authority nor the FAA Control Tower received notification before the restrictions took effect. Airport officials met with the agency on October 13 to advocate for local stakeholders and are currently requesting that community representatives participate in upcoming discussions.

An FAA Safety Risk Management Panel is scheduled to convene on October 27–28 to evaluate the risks and implement updated safety measures.