I’m writing currently stuck at gate B60 in KDEN for SKW6559 to head to KASE. We planed, then deplaned because of excessive private air traffic going into Aspen and a lack of ramp space. Decided to hop on flightaware to see what the deal was only to find 20+ private aircraft scheduled in a 30 min period for arrival into Aspen. Check out the map of air traffic for Aspen to see the craziness!
Al Gore must be holding an emergency summit on Global Warming.
Busier than President’s Day!
Saturday…Ski season ending soon…new snow coming…Yep, people are gonna wanna ski while the skiing is still good. KEGE was pretty busy today as well.
And your point is?
Take it from someone who has flow commercially and privately into all of the major ski area airports, it works both ways. I have been on the winning end and the losing end at both types of operation. If you were waiting on the ground I can all but assure you there were others including private aircraft waiting as well. Aspen is somewhat special as the missed approach returns more or less along the same path as the approach. You can’t have a second aircraft in the middle of the approach when the first one needs to go missed (true of all IFR approaches but even more so at Aspen) thus the movement rates are lower. You got caught in a ground stop while they sorted it out.
Hey, look at this guy!
As far as high traffic into Aspen:
It’s spring break. What do you expect?
Just thought I’d point out the excess of traffic headed into the area. I didn’t mind the wait at all, I actually enjoyed the time spent in Denver waiting for things to clear up. Funny to see all the jets tripled parked on the tarmac when we arrived last night. Big snow is here now so it’s likely no traffic will be in or out of here until late tomorrow.
Excess traffic? lol, no such thing unless you are the one holding. Private aircraft have to get a slot during the ski season, that theoretically helps the delay factor. I imagine that GA accounts for the bulk of operations at Aspen so you could say it’s the airlines that are gumming up the system. or not.
John
Last time I was there, Gates B60, B58, and B54(?) were all delayed going into Aspen. I was on the flight from B60, the latest flight, and we left BEFORE the other guys.
Saturday…Ski season ending soon…new snow coming…Yep, people are gonna wanna ski while the skiing is still good. KEGE was pretty busy today as well.
I flew into Vail Eagle last Thursday and there was only a handful of planes on the ramp. When I left Sunday afternoon there were planes everywhere. Stacked four deep behind the hangers. We were 30 mins late for departure as we were about 7th in line. There were about 4 planes behind us as well. I took a picture of the ramp with my cell phone but the picture didnt turn out so well.