The FAA assessment examined flights from May 2025 through April 2026 and classified parallel departures as high risk for aircraft drifting or deviating in ways that could bring planes together without effective safeguards. The agency’s assessment is dated Sept. 29; a directive memo followed on Sept. 30. Airport officials said they did not receive the memo until the restrictions took effect the next day.

Centennial Airport said neither its authority nor the control tower received advance notice or the customary opportunity for stakeholders to weigh in. The airport described the process as highly unusual and has asked the FAA to involve local stakeholders in decisions about future safety measures.

The changes are also affecting flight training at the busy south-metro airport. Earlier this month, the control tower told pilots that runways were unavailable for touch-and-goes and pattern work—repeated takeoffs and landings used to teach student pilots.

J.T. Murphy, a Centennial-based independent instructor who owns Breakthrough Aviation, said instructors had to find other airports for training. Flying farther to practice basic maneuvers leaves less time for instruction and adds fuel costs, he said. Murphy estimated that he had lost about half his business as some students canceled or sought less costly training options elsewhere.

Airport officials and flight schools have also raised concerns that moving training flights could add pressure to other already busy airports.

The FAA said a safety risk management panel is scheduled for Oct. 27 and 28, after which updated measures are expected. The agency has not yet detailed the process for deciding what restrictions will follow.