Montgomery County Airpark

10/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on September 22 for our Fly Friendly work session. If you could not attend, there is still time to take part. Written comments are open through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 9.

Neighbors, pilots, and flight instructors talked through how the Airpark's noise abatement program can work better for everyone. Among the ideas we heard: how many aircraft are in the traffic pattern, how departures and pattern turns can better avoid homes, and working directly with flight schools on training schedules. Written comments carry the same weight as comments made in the room.

Send your comments to the Airport Manager at [email protected] by Friday, October 9.

On Friday, October 23, we will post every idea and suggestion we received on our website, montgomerycountyairpark.com. Draft revised procedures will be released for public comment on January 15, 2027, followed by our next public meeting on February 9, 2027.

Fly Friendly is a voluntary program. The FAA regulates how and where aircraft fly. The Airpark is responsible for what we ask of pilots, how clearly we publish it, and how it is built into flight training.

09/11/2026

We are updating the Airpark's Fly Friendly procedures, and we want to hear from the people who live under the pattern as well as the people who fly it.
Open work session: Tuesday, September 22, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Former Gold's Gym building, 18810 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg. Departure and arrival routing, pattern practices, touch and go operations, quiet hours, and how we keep the program current are all on the table.
If you cannot make it, send your comments to [email protected] through Friday October 9th, 2026. We will publish what we heard and what we are changing. Details on our website

An open meeting to review and update the Airpark’s voluntary noise-abatement procedures. Tuesday, September 22, 2026 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EDT · Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 18810 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (Former Gold’s Gym Building) Who Should Come Airpark neighbors and community members...

08/24/2026

If you saw a large military aircraft at Montgomery County Airpark this morning, there is no cause for concern. The Airpark occasionally supports military and medical transport missions, and this morning's was one of them, coordinated with local emergency services. It's a role we're glad to play. Our thanks to the crews and first responders involved.

06/15/2026

Some of the most important flights at Montgomery County Airpark are also the ones you will never hear about.

Several times a year, life-saving organ transport flights launch from KGAI, moving donated organs to transplant centers across the region under tight, time-critical deadlines. Donated organs have only hours of viability, and general aviation aircraft are often the fastest way to get them where they need to go. No commercial schedule. No layovers. Just wheels up, mission complete.

This is part of what the Airpark has quietly made possible. Not every flight out of KGAI is a lesson or a business trip. Some are someone's second chance at life. 🫶

05/20/2026

🛩️ Future pilots in the making at Goshen Elementary!

Airpark Manager Justin Bollum recently joined Chelsea Dorman of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) at Goshen Elementary School's "Propelling Our World" STEM event, and what a day it was.

Together, Justin and Chelsea connected with hundreds of students and families, handing out Pilot's Guides to the Montgomery County Airpark and Maryland aeronautical charts. Both are licensed pilots, and they used aircraft models and hands-on demonstrations to teach kids the basics of how planes actually fly and all the different parts of an airplane.

The best part? Students who answered aviation questions correctly took home a balsa wood plane courtesy of the MAA. (We're pretty sure a few flight paths were tested in the school parking lot afterward.)

Events like this are exactly why the Airpark exists in the community to inspire the next generation of pilots, engineers, and aviation professionals right here in Montgomery County. Huge thanks to Goshen Elementary for the invitation and to the MAA for being a great partner.

✈️ Know a school or community group that would like a visit from the Airpark? Reach out: [email protected]

04/28/2026

Aviation Fuel and the Transition to Unleaded: What KGAI Neighbors Should Know

At the March town hall, several community members asked about aviation gasoline (avgas) and lead emissions. Here's what everyone should know about where the industry stands and where it's heading.

The Current Situation - Most small aircraft engines still use 100LL (low-lead) aviation gasoline, which contains tetraethyl lead. This fuel has been the industry standard for decades because it prevents engine knock in high-performance aircraft engines. The EPA estimates that general aviation accounts for about 70% of atmospheric lead emissions in the United States.

Why This Matters Lead exposure poses health risks. While aviation lead emissions are a small percentage of total lead exposure sources, the EPA and the aviation industry recognize the need to eliminate them entirely. Airborne lead emissions have been reduced by 99% since the 1980’s by the phase out of leaded car gas.

The Path Forward - The FAA launched the EAGLE (Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions) initiative with a goal of transitioning the fleet to unleaded fuel by 2030. Several unleaded aviation fuels are in testing and certification phases. Some aircraft can already use unleaded alternatives, and that number grows as more fuels gain approval.

At KGAI As unleaded aviation fuels become commercially available and certified for the aircraft based here, Montgomery County Airpark will support the transition. This is an industry-wide change happening at airports across the country, driven by federal policy and aircraft manufacturer approvals.

The Bigger Picture - Environmental monitoring for aviation facilities falls under EPA and state environmental agency oversight. The Maryland Department of the Environment discontinued statewide ambient lead monitoring in 2017 with EPA approval because levels were consistently below detection limits.

Questions about aviation fuel or environmental regulations? Email [email protected] or call (301) 978-7009.

Learn more about the EAGLE initiative: https://www.faa.gov/unleaded

04/11/2026

One of the most common questions we hear is some version of: who is actually responsible for what at the Montgomery County Airpark?

It is a fair question. The answer is more layered than it might appear, and we want to be clear about it.

The Montgomery County Revenue Authority (MCRA) owns the land and is responsible for the runways, taxiways, and airfield safety. MCRA is also the FAA grant sponsor, which means federal infrastructure investment - like the North End hangar project currently in development - flows through MCRA.

The day-to-day operation of the terminal, hangars, tie-downs, fueling, and line management is handled by DC Metro Aviation LLC, a private company that operates those parts of the Airpark under a long-term master lease agreement.

The FAA licenses and oversees pilots, flight schools and aircraft operations. The Maryland Aviation Administration licenses the airport and conducts annual inspections.

Understanding who does what matters - especially when you have a question or a concern. If it is a noise or safety issues, start at https://www.montgomerycountyairpark.com If it is a question about hangar or terminal operations, that falls under DC Metro. If it is about airfield infrastructure, that is MCRA.