Aspen/Pitkin County Airport

Fly Quiet Program

Aspen, Colorado

aspenfqcolor

Increasing business jet operations in the late 80’s and early 90’s prompted Pitkin County to consider additional methods to manage aircraft noise. Significant restrictions were in place at ASE prior the passage of The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 (ANCA). However, the community desired additional effort be placed on managing single event noise as a result of Stage II aircraft operations at the airport. To implement more stringent restrictions ANCA mandates the completion of an FAA Part 161 Study. As an alternative to this process, Barnard Dunkelberg & Company was commissioned to develop and implement a Fly Quite program for Aspen/Pitkin County Airport to address growing noise concerns without the costly and sometimes controversial measures of a Part 161 Study process.

A Fly Quiet program creates voluntary noise abatement measures and establishes parameter for the validation of those measures in consideration of community thresholds and expectations. Each program is custom crafted to meet the particular circumstances present in each in the environs of the focus airport. A principal management tool is the public recognition of those who do the best and worst in meeting the established voluntary noise abatement standards.

Rural mountain environments like Aspen, Colorado do not fit the typical noise metric. Accepted standards and benchmarks associated with aircraft noise management in an urban environment do not work in such settings. An innovative and pioneering program is underway with the goal of creatively meeting the needs of the flying public while further mitigating undesirable aircraft noise impacts through enhanced voluntary measures.

Project Features

  • Realistic Compliance Goals.
  • Graduated Enforcement.
  • Cost Effective.
  • Measurable Outcomes.
  • Computer-Aided Noise Monitoring and Flight Tracking System.
  • Internet-based Access to Data by All Parties.
  • In-depth Public Participation and Problem Solving.
  • Sincere Stakeholder Involvement.

Client:
Pitkin County
Jim Elwood, A.A.E., Airport Director
(970) 970-5387