The volume of general aviation arrivals for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver was less than predicted, according to Denver-area FBOs serving the turbine-powered fleet. As a result, the Special Traffic Management Plan (STMP) that Denver Tracon prepared for the event had not gone into effect by the start of the convention. However, the 10- and 30-mile-radius Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) airspace rings centered on the convention site were active from 2 p.m. through 11 p.m. MDT each day. The FAA reported three TFR violations during the DNC. Two of the aircraft penetrating the TFR airspace were “escorted” out of the restricted area. Possible enforcement action against pilots involved is being reviewed, an FAA spokesman said.
The convention’s overall impact on business aviation arrivals between August 22 and 28 turned out to be less than anticipated. In fact, Cutter Aviation at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, 60 miles south of the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver where the DNC was held, prepared for an influx of convention arrivals that never materialized. Cutter’s Jessi Scudder told AIN, “We had some convention traffic, but not as much as we predicted. We had heard that Denver was going to be packed and they would be heading toward us. We had a few reservations who double-booked, but they cancelled when they found they could get into the Denver area.”
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