WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a $1,290,780 civil penalty against the City of Alamosa and County of Alamosa, Colorado, for allegedly failing to ensure aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel were available during scheduled air carrier flights at San Luis Valley Regional Airport. 

The FAA-approved Airport Certification Manual for San Luis Valley Regional Airport requires it to have qualified firefighters present at least an hour before the first scheduled airline operation of the day and 45 minutes before all subsequent carrier operations. They also must remain on site for 15 minutes after a scheduled airline operation. 

The FAA alleges that between November 2020 and September 2021, approximately 138 scheduled air carrier flights took place when firefighters were not on-airport. 

The City and County of Alamosa have been in communication with the FAA about this matter.