Aspen/Pitkin County Airport

Master Plan

Aspen, Colorado

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ASE is a commercial service non-hub airport utilizing primarily “contra-flow” operations (essentially one-way-in, one-way-out). Contra-flow operations are required primarily due to terrain and aircraft performance considerations. Aspen Airport is situated within sight of the 4 local ski mountains and has had a history of unique environmental and noise challenges.

Located at the narrow end of a high mountain valley, the airport is hemmed in by terrain features, the main highway into town and surrounding commercial and residential development. Limited development space for landside facilities necessitated the $37 million Eastside Infrastructure Development planning program (ESID).

This Master Plan Update was programmed to assimilate the ‘83 airport master plan, the ‘98 airport layout plan update and the ‘01 ESID plan. The prior master plan was well dated and the ALP update and ESID plans were quite limited in study area. The master plan update revised all of the previous plans, forecasts and assumptions to prepare a modernized long term planning program for this environmentally sensitive and site constrained airport.

This process extensive public participation has been programmed due to the significant number of stakeholders critically concerned and interested in any potential development that may take place in the Roaring Fork River Valley.

Project Features

  • Take-off only runway extension examination.
  • Incorporation of recently-developed Eastside Infrastructure Development (ESID) Plan.
  • Integration of and consideration for Aspen FAR Part 161 Study issues and concepts and Fly Quite Program.
  • An emphasis on terminal area concepts and considerations.
  • Advanced terminal navigation & landing aids evaluation.
  • Examination of undeveloped airport Westside for aviation-use facilities dialogue.
  • In-depth and fully-integrated public participation process for planning effort.
  • Comprehensive aircraft fleet performance evaluation.
  • Extensive use of internet website to augment project information access to the public-at-large.

Client:
Aspen/Pitkin County
Jim Elwood, AAE, Aviation Director
(970) 429-2851