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Aspen/Pitkin County Airport

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Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (IATA: ASE, ICAO: KASE, FAA LID: ASE), also known as Sardy Field, is a county-owned public-use airport located three miles (3 nmi; 5 km) northwest of the central business district of Aspen, in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States.[1] The airport covers an area of 573 acres (232 ha) at an elevation of 7,820 feet (2,384 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt paved runway designated 15/33 which measures 8,006 by 100 feet (2,440 x 30 m).[1]

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport

Sardy Field
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPitkin County
ServesAspen, Colorado
Elevation AMSL7,820 ft / 2,384 m
Coordinates39°13′23″N 106°52′08″W / 39.22306°N 106.86889°W / 39.22306; -106.86889
Websiteaspenairport.com
Map
ASE is located in Colorado
ASE
ASE
Location of airport in Colorado
ASE is located in the United States
ASE
ASE
ASE (the United States)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
15/33 8,006 2,440 Asphalt
Statistics
Aircraft operations (year ending 11/30/2020)38,584
Based aircraft (2020)95
Total passengers served (12 months ending January 2019)569,000

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2023–2027 categorized it as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.[3]

History

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The site of Aspen/Pitkin County Airport was first occupied by settlers in 1881, with the establishment of the Stapleton ranch, a 320-acre homestead. The first building on the site, a log cabin, sat on the east side of the present-day runway. The Stapleton family grew potatoes and raised animals, including sheep, cattle, and hogs.[4][5]

A private gravel airstrip opened on the Stapleton ranch in 1946, promoted by Walter Paepcke and John Spachner. The airstrip was open to the public, but was mostly used by the aviation department of the Aspen Institute, the precursor of Aspen Airways.[6]

The Pitkin County government gained control of the gravel airstrip in the 1956, and began a project to pave the runway. County commissioner Tom Sardy headed the project, and the airport was renamed Sardy Field in his honor in 1958.[7][6]

The original paved runway was 5,000 by 50 feet (1,524 by 15 m). The runway has been expanded four times since, reaching its current dimensions in 2011.[6]

Facilities

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Runway 33

For the 12-month period ending November 30, 2020, the airport had 38,584 aircraft operations, an average of 106 per day: 52% general aviation, 29% air taxi, 18% scheduled commercial, and 1% military. In November 2020, there were 95 aircraft based at this airport: 66 single-engine, 10 multi-engine, 13 jet, 5 helicopter, and 1 glider.[1]

Aspen/Pitkin Co. Airport has more regular service from major carriers than any other regional ski town airport in North America. In the winter, its regular, weekly flights number more than 170 (not including extra flights often run during busy holiday seasons). In addition to regular service from Denver, Aspen sees more than 20 flights a week from Chicago and Los Angeles.[8]

Runway

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In 2007, the runway was completely rehabilitated with new grooved asphalt. A partial length parallel taxiway A is located 320 ft (98 m) from the runway centerline on the east side of the runway, and serves general aviation on the north end of the airport and the commercial terminal on the south end. The airport meets modified FAA D-III airport reference code standards.

On April 4, 2011, the airport began a $15.5 million runway extension project which added 1,000 feet of runway length to the existing 8,006 feet long runway. This project was completed on November 2, 2011.[9]

As of 2024, the runway pavement is years beyond its useful life. The airport has been making surface-level repairs have kept it safe and operational, funded by the FAA. However, the FAA announced in 2024 that it would no longer provide funding for repairs of the runway and that it would only consider funding a replacement runway if it met current Category III standards, which would require shifting the runway 80 feet (24 m) to the west to create a 400-foot (120 m) separation between the runway and taxiway.[10]

Terminal

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The Aspen/Pitkin County airport terminal is a 44,000 square feet (4,100 m2) single floor facility, which has undergone several renovations since its original construction in 1976. The airport terminal hosts six rental car operations, a year-round guest services operation, plus Jeddadiahs restaurant and gift shops. The terminal has a cellphone parking lot to accommodate motorists waiting to pick up passengers. The 40 spaced parking lot is located in a manner to allow motorists to loop and re-access the terminal without getting back on Colorado State Highway 82.[11]

Operations

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Safety

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The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is certificated as a Class I, ARFF Index B commercial service airport under FAR Part 139. The airport's operations department is responsible for daily compliance with FAA Part 139, including daily airport safety inspections, rules and regulations enforcement, and aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF). The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office has the primary responsibility of law enforcement and shares in incident management for emergency response to events occurring on airport property In July 2009, the airport took delivery of a new Oshkosh Striker 1500 Index B ARFF truck. Mutual aid response to airport incidents is provided by the Aspen Fire Department, Roaring Fork Fire Rescue, Aspen Ambulance, and others.

Airport operations staff operates from the airport's Operations Center, constructed in 2006 on the west side of the airport. This facility houses airport operations and facilities maintenance staff, as well as the airport's fleet of ARFF, snow removal, and other airport equipment.

Services

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General aviation services are provided by Atlantic Aviation, the airport's sole fixed-base operator.

The FAA has installed an FAA Weather Camera in addition to the Automated surface observing system (ASOS) available to help pilots determine the weather conditions at Aspen airport and the surrounding area.[12]

Restrictions

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The airport has several unique operating limitations due to local legislation, the constrained size of the airfield, and its location in a high elevation mountain valley. As of 2024, aircraft at ASE are restricted to a wingspan of 95 feet (29 m), due to the separation between the runway and a parallel taxiway, and a maximum weight of 100,000 pounds (45,000 kg), due to the condition of the runway.[13][14] These restrictions influence the commercial airline services provided at ASE, which must use regional aircraft to comply with the weight and size limits. Most mainline aircraft, such as the Boeing 737, are generally prohibited from the airport due to these restrictions.[15]

ASE has a curfew in place, which prohibits operations between 11 PM and 7 AM. No aircraft departures are permitted after 10:30 PM. Jet aircraft with louder engines, under the FAA Stage II category, are permitted to take off no more than 30 minutes after official sunset.[16][17]

For most aircraft operations, especially commercial passenger flights, planes must land to the south on runway 15 and take off to the north on runway 33, due to the mountain range to the south of the runway.[18] This means aircraft taking off and landing fly towards each other. It can also lead to delays, cancellations, and weight restrictions depending on wind strength and direction.[19]

Commercial passenger flights must be flown by crews with special qualification and aircraft certified by the FAA to have enough performance to fly the steep approach to the airport and perform the demanding go-around procedure during an aborted landing. As of 2024, SkyWest Airlines is the only commercial operator with crews qualified to operate into Aspen and the only aircraft currently certified are the Bombardier CRJ700 and Embraer 175.[20][14]

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Aero Charter: Los Angeles–Van Nuys[21]
American Eagle Dallas/Fort Worth
Seasonal: Austin,[22] Chicago–O'Hare, Los Angeles, Phoenix–Sky Harbor
Delta Connection Atlanta, Los Angeles[23]
United Express Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, San Francisco

Statistics

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Top destinations from ASE (August 2023 - July 2024)[24]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Denver, Colorado 131,920 United
2 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 49,060 American
3 Los Angeles, California 43,700 American, Delta, United
4 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 40,660 American, United
5 Houston, Texas 26,750 United
6 San Francisco, California 14,550 United
7 Atlanta, Georgia 13,050 Delta
8 Austin, Texas 8,510 American
9 Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 4,310 American

Accidents and incidents

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  • On January 14, 1970, an Aspen Airways Convair CV-240-12 (registration N270L) landed on the runway with its landing gear raised. The pilot in command wanted to keep the airspeed above 130 knots in case a go-around was required, and failed to extend the landing gear on short final. The gear warning horn did not sound. There were no injuries.[25]
  • On January 5, 1989, a Federal Express Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster (registration N945FE) executed a missed approach but failed to do so in accordance with published missed approach procedures, resulting in a collision with trees. The pilot, the only occupant, was uninjured.[26]
  • On February 13, 1991, a Richmor Aviation Learjet 35A (registration N535PC) stalled and collided with terrain and killed all three people on board. The FAA determined the flight crew's failure to maintain airspeed and control of the aircraft, as well as the execution of an unstabilized approach and the snow-covered mountainous terrain, to be contributing factors.[27]
  • On January 6, 1996, a Learjet 60 (registration XA-ICA) touched down in a snow-covered field 1,000 ft from the runway threshold and 25 feet right of the runway centerline. The nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid through several snow berms before coming to a halt on the runway at the 4,000 ft mark. It was determined by FAA investigators that sun glare, the snow-covered runway, and the airport's failure to properly remove snow from the runway were the causes for the crash.[28]
  • On March 29, 2001, a Gulfstream III (registration N303GA), owned by Avjet Corporation, crashed on approach to runway 15 killing all 18 occupants on board. The flight crew's operation of the aircraft below minimum descent altitude without visual reference with the runway was determined to be the main cause, but the FAA also recognized that an unclear NOTAM that was issued for the approach confused the flight crew. Additionally, the FAA's failure to communicate the restrictions to Aspen Tower controllers contributed. The pilot was also under pressure to land from the charter customer.[29]
  • On June 7, 2009, a Learjet 60 (registration N500SW) veered off the runway on landing and came to rest on the right side of the runway with a collapsed right main gear, with no injuries to the eight persons on board.[30]
  • On January 5, 2014, a Bombardier Challenger 600 (registration N115WF) crashed upon landing and experienced a post-impact fire, killing one occupant and seriously injuring the other two persons on board.[31] A National Transportation Safety Board report in 2017 concluded that the crash was due to pilot inexperience as they attempted to land with 25 knot wind gusts and failed "to conduct a go-around when the approach became unstabilized".[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for ASE PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective July 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "General Information". aspenairport.com. Aviation's Yellow Pages+. 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  3. ^ "NPIAS Report 2023-2027 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 6, 2022. p. 26. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  4. ^ Gilbert, Anne (1991). "The People of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley: A History of the Families and Daily Life of Miners and Ranchers, 1879-1960" (PDF). Aspen Historical Society. p. 71. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  5. ^ "Aspen airport holds onto ranching past". The Denver Post. December 1, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "ASE History". Aspen/Pitkin County Airport. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  7. ^ Cooney, Tim (December 28, 2016). "Timeline: Birth of ski industry wakes Aspen from its post-mining slumber". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  8. ^ Steiner, Christopher (August 24, 2015). "Top 5 Ski Town Airports". ZRankings. ZRankings. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  9. ^ "Runway Extension Completed". Aspen/Pitkin County Airport. 2012. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  10. ^ Taris, Josie (March 2, 2024). "FAA will not continue funding airport runway repairs". www.aspentimes.com. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "New Cellphone Parking Lot". Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, ASE. August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "FAA expands weather camera coverage in Colorado and Montana — General Aviation News". generalaviationnews.com. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  13. ^ Taris, Josie (April 12, 2023). "FAA tells Pitkin County and airport that restrictions on safety and access are not allowed". The Aspen Times. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Denby, Sam (September 24, 2024). The Huge Controversy Over Moving This Runway 80 Feet. Wendover Productions. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ Auslander, Jason (December 29, 2018). "'Whale' 737 makes first-ever landing at Aspen's airport as debate about larger plane continues". The Aspen Times. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  16. ^ Clark, Moe; Imadali, Eli (November 4, 2023). "How a small airport in rural Colorado became a landing pad for the rich". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "KASE - Aspen-Pitkin County Airport/Sardy Field". AirNav.com. November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Ross, Tracy (October 8, 2023). "At Aspen's airport for the rich, a typically Colorado debate: Expand or stay small?". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  19. ^ Wolper, Jim (June 4, 2023). "One-Way Airports". Aviation Safety Magazine. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  20. ^ Ewing, Ryan (July 31, 2024). "Aspen to Receive Embraer 175 Service". Airline Geeks.
  21. ^ https://portfolioaspen.com/blog/visiting-aspen-fly-with-aero
  22. ^ "Nonstop Growth in Austin Leads to More Nonstops to Austin". news.aa.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  23. ^ "Delta is back: Airline's return to Aspen market drives down airfare, at least temporarily".
  24. ^ "RITA BTS Transtats - ASE". www.transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  25. ^ "ASN Accident Report". ASN. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  26. ^ "ASN Accident Report". ASN. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  27. ^ "ASN Accident Report". ASN. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  28. ^ "ASN Accident Report". ASN. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  29. ^ "ASN Accident Report". ASN. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  30. ^ "ASN Accident Report". ASN. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  31. ^ McGhee, Tom (January 6, 2014). "Aspen airport remains closed after crash that killed 1, injured 2". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 27, 2017. The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport remains closed and investigators are waiting until a private jet that sits belly up after an accident that killed one and injured two others can be stabilized so they can begin examining the wreckage.
  32. ^ Carroll, Rick (April 25, 2017). "NTSB concludes winds, pilot error led to fatal crash at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport". Aspen Times.
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