New Airport Manager, Runway Closed for Summer

New Airport Manager in Leadville Today

April 1 marked a new chapter in the Leadville-Lake County Airport (LXV) story as a new manager was announced. Welcome to America’s highest airport, Brett M. Cottrell.

Cottrell is a commercial and instrument rated command pilot in both airplanes and helicopters with more than 3,300 flight hours and is a demonstrated management professional.  He is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and earned a Master of Aeronautical Science in Management/Safety, and a Master of Science in Resource Management from the Industry College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.

Brett Cottrell (second from left in his navy whites) is pictured here with his family: wife, Diane, and three college-age kids: Jared, Nicole, and Emily. Photo: Leadville Airport.

He came to the airport having completed a 28-year career as a Captain in the United States Navy, where he held leadership positions as the Commanding Officer of Naval Operations Support Center, Buckley Air Force Base, the Director of Mobilization for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, the Global Force Management Branch Chief for the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commanding Officer of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 60 in Jacksonville, FL.

Joining the LXV airport team, Cottrell plans to use a people-centered approach to provide the community with superior aviation facilities, excellent customer service, and support of a growing regional economy.

“I expect as a team we will serve our community and our customers by offering a safe and environmentally friendly airport as well as personalized, flexible solutions for airport tenants, general aviation visitors, and testing companies.”

When asked why he came to Leadville, Brett said, “After 28 years in the Navy, the importance of service and a love of aviation are deeply ingrained. That combined with an insatiable appetite for mountain-biking, kayaking, and anything physically hard and challenging, Leadville was the perfect place and LXV, the perfect job!

Cottrell has relocated to Leadville with the support of his wife, Diane, and their three college-age kids: Jared, Nicole, and Emily. “We look forward to being part of the community,” said Cottrell.

Did You Know This About the Leadville Airport?

• Did You Know? That the Leadville-Lake County Airport (LXV) cleared a $185,000 profit in fuel sales in 2018?

Fuel sales is one of the Leadville Airport’s revenues streams with many pilots gassing up when they land for their special Leadville Certificate showing that they landed in America’s Highest Public Airport. Photo: Leadville Today/Kathy Bedell.

• Did You Know? That the runway at the Leadville-Lake County Airport (LXV) will be closed this summer? It’s true, there will be no airplanes landing in Leadville this summer while the airport runway undergoes a $5.8 million rehabilitation project. It was one of the small airports in 34 states which has awarded part of the $205 million in supplemental funding for infrastructure.  Stay tuned to Leadville Today for a FULL REPORT on the project, including all of the nuts and bolts and what it could mean for the future of America’s highest airport!
• Did You Know? That a new Airport Advisory Board has been seated? Thank you for your service: Bryan Ferrar, Earl Boeve, Charles Novasel, Bob Hartzell, and Steven DiSerio.
• Did You Know? Leadville-Lake County Airport is North America’s highest public use airport. Located in central Colorado, two miles southwest of the city of Leadville, the airport provides a unique role to the area and communities of Lake and Summit Counties, linking them to the National Air Transportation System. Due to the high elevation of the airport, LXV has become recognized for high altitude testing and training for the military and aerospace companies worldwide.