Denver: Planes Flying Too Close? Concerns Outlines In Government Memo Obtained By 7NEWS

Marc Stewart, 7News Reporter

POSTED: 8:02 pm MDT September 5, 2011

UPDATED: 8:48 pm MDT September 5, 2011

DENVER -- An internal memo obtained by 7NEWS is raising questions about the separation of aircraft in the skies over Colorado and several other states.

The memo was sent to all Denver air traffic controller. It urges them to keep their "guard up."

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Denver Center had 16 operational errors, since the beginning of 2011. These are mistakes dealing with the spacing of aircraft. Five such errors occurred between July and August.

Controllers are "challenged by lapses that lead to situations that degrade the level of safety we provide," according to the document obtained by CALL7 Investigators.

7NEWS has been exposing these problems for years.

On Nov. 23, 2010, two passengers jets nearly collided in the airspace over Colorado.

In July, 7NEWS reported on a controller, suspected of being under the influence of alcohol while on the job.

Cases that come to light as the Boston Globe reports an 81 percent spike in aircraft spacing errors between 2007 and 2010.

7NEWS also obtained a U.S. Department of Transportation memo expressing concern over training programs in Denver. A training simulator was never purchased and educational programs were never implemented according to the document.

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