Airport Background & Current Constraints

• Aspen-Pitkin County Airport: 5 minutes from Aspen ski town
• Largest plane ever landed: older 737 variant configured as private jet for Texas oil company
• Airport stuck between FAA ultimatum and local voter resistance
• Terminal opened 1976 with passive solar heating (first in US), unchanged since
• Runway last widened 1983
• Located 8,000 ft (2,500 m) above sea level in narrow valley - 2nd highest commercial airport in US
• Nestled between mountains (west) and river (east)

Current Operational Limitations

• Taxiway-runway separation: 320 ft (100 m) vs required 400 ft (120 m) for Design Group 3
• FAA approved 1999 modification allowing Design Group 3 operation with caveats
• Maximum wingspan restricted to 95 ft (29 m) vs typical 118 ft allowed
• Excludes all mainline aircraft from United, American, Delta fleets
• Only aircraft operating: CRJ700 by SkyWest Airlines (subcontractor for major carriers)
• Special pilot training required for unique terrain operations
• Departing aircraft take off toward landing aircraft (unique feature)
• Inbound aircraft descend at 6% rate vs typical 3%

FAA Funding & Grant Obligations

• Since 1982: $116.5 million received from FAA
• Past 2 years: $12 million allocated for runway repairs
• Grant assurances require "safe and serviceable system" operation
• Runway closures: 2 weeks May 2022, 2 weeks 2023, 3 weeks 2024
• 14-inch core sample: bottom 7 inches fell apart, indicating subgrade degradation
• FAA ultimatum: "$18.5 million expenditure on runway maintenance - will not invest additional funding to maintain existing runway"
• Next FAA investment only for complete runway reconstruction per approved ALP

Approved Development Plan (ALP)

• Filed with FAA, approved by County Commissioners 2015, FAA approved 2016
• New green terminal with fewer gates
• Sound berm, increased parking
• Widened runway with 400 ft separation from taxiway (vs current 320 ft)
• 80 ft difference enables full Design Group 3 status without modification
• Would allow aircraft up to 118 ft wingspan without restriction

Pro-Expansion Arguments

• Environmental benefits: Community survey prioritized reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Current replacement aircraft (Embraer 175) more polluting than CRJ700
• Airbus A220 potential: less than half per-passenger-mile carbon emissions vs CRJ700
• A220 quieter than CRJ700, longer range for additional markets
• United announcing E175 service Winter 2024
• Terminal upgrade consensus: flex gates accommodate 6-8 jets depending on size

Opposition Groups & Arguments

Aspen Fly Right

• Argues county needs "better airport, not bigger airport"
• Concerned about noise pollution and development creep
• Notes Gulfstream 650s (99 ft wingspan) would gain access
• 30+ area real estate owners also own $60 million G650s
• Proposes county take over Fixed Base Operator (FBO) from Atlantic Aviation
• Claims potential $19-20 million annual revenue from private jet operations
• References Jackson, Wyoming model: purchased FBO for $26 million, projects $5 million annual revenue

Citizens Against Bigger Planes

• Collected signatures for ballot measure
• Seeks to amend County Charter removing commissioners' runway expansion approval authority
• Transfer decision power to ~13,000 registered voters in area

Political Battle & Ballot Measures

• County Commissioners created competing ballot measure reaffirming their authority
• Two contradictory ballot measures on November ballot
• Coalition for 21st Century Airport supports expansion
• All sides claim misinformation by opponents
• Disagreement on basic facts regarding emissions, noise, modification of standards

Consequences of Inaction

• Delta reduced service: 3 daily flights 2019 to zero during COVID
• Delta no longer serves Salt Lake City hub, only LA and Atlanta
• September 2024: missed $100 million federal funding opportunity due to lack of approved ALP
• Increasing runway degradation threatens unpredictable closures
• Potential winter closures could devastate tourism-dependent economy
• Airport has highest private jet traffic globally relative to size

Infrastructure Governance Dilemma

• Federal vs local authority conflict
• Examples of both levels getting infrastructure decisions wrong
• Current impasse prevents any improvements despite universal agreement on terminal/runway needs
• Comparison to broader American infrastructure challenges vs international standards