No Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 5050; Flight Crew Type 2500
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
While maintaining my aircraft at the Vance Brand Longmont Airport; I observed skydivers descending through the traffic pattern and crossing the runway center line to land in the designated landing area. The same operations were repeated all afternoon. I observed the parachutes opening high above the airport and to the north. The skydivers then descended to the north of the airport; passing through roughly the 1;000 foot AGL traffic pattern then crossing the runway center line to the south to land next to the runway on the south side. Some of the parachutists crossed the runway below 500 feet. The winds at the time favored landing on Runway 29; and a left hand pattern to the north. Multiple aircraft were in the pattern at the time; and all afternoon as well. In the event of a go-around or an aircraft performing a close-in pattern there could certainly have been a collision of an aircraft with a skydiver. My understanding is that the skydivers are required to stay south of the airport and not to cross into the active pattern or directly over the runway.
Observer at LMO airport reported skydivers were crossing the runway in their descent to the ground; posing a safety hazard.