This week at Aspen Journalism, we bring you coverage on two topics central to our community’s character and environmental footprint.
Most of the attention, when it comes to discussions about expanding the Aspen airport’s runway, is related to commercial air carriers and the inevitable impact that changes to their operations will have on our community and economy. But just down the road from the commercial terminal, the airport’s fixed-base-operator facility is responsible for the vast majority of flights that come and go. AJ Data Editor Laurine Lassalle set out to analyze two years worth of flight operations data from the Aspen Pitkin County Airport, to see what it could tell us about the 80% of air traffic attributed to the private side of the airfield.
We learned that there is wide diversity in the types of aircraft, and their ages, that make up these flights. We familiarized ourselves with the concept of an “air taxi,” and how this category of chartered and on-demand private jet travel is distinct — at least in the eyes of the Federal Aviation Administration — from general aviation. It turns out that air taxis have been growing at ASE, surpassing commercial air carriers in total operations since the pandemic shifted travel patterns. We checked in on the demand forecast that projects 1.3% annual growth in private-plane travel over the next 20 years.
This is AJ’s first story in a few years on the airport — a topic that we know our community is hungry for more reporting on, as we approach critical decisions about its future. We look forward to bringing you more in-depth coverage as we make sense of the facts and questions in play.
We hope you also saw our story looking into how it’s going now that logging and construction is underway for the Pandora’s ski area expansion of Aspen Mountain. From Elizabeth Stewart-Severy, AJ’s former Connie Harvey Environment Desk editor, now writing on freelance, the reporting takes stock of the project’s scope and operational details, with perspective from company officials, community members and representatives of the U.S. Forest Service and Pitkin County who are charged with oversight. In addition, the story explores the big question, which will likely be debated for years to come, of whether improving the ski resort is worth the environmental costs, including clearing trees and pushing industrial recreation deeper into the backcountry.
We are grateful to all who take the time to read this work and consider the issues it seeks to help us better understand. Thank you for supporting our local nonprofit newsroom.
Curtis Wackerle
– Editor and Executive Director
Air taxis and drop-and-go’s: In the mix that makes up 80% of ASE operations
Charters, fractional jets and general aviation are often clumped together
By Laurine Lassalle | July 31, 2023
On-demand and chartered private flights known as air taxis have gained popularity since the pandemic at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE), surpassing operations from commercial carriers at an airfield where general aviation and air taxis make up 80% of the flights. Also, general aviation operations in 2021 reached their highest level since 2008.
Pandora’s expansion proceeding on track with logging, lift construction
SkiCo aims to minimize impact while controversy remains for some project opponents
By Elizabeth Stewart-Severy | July 27, 2023
To facilitate the new terrain expansion that will add 153 acres to the ski area, Pitkin County and the U.S. Forest Service approved clearing up to 106 acres of trees for gladed and traditional ski runs. This will require cutting an estimated 4,226 tons of timber over three years.
Data dashboard: Streamflows keep slowing down
Air temperatures reach 91°F in Aspen
By Laurine Lassalle | August 2, 2023
• The Fork at Stillwater ran at 82% of average on July 30 and 96.3% of average below Marron Creek.
• Lake Powell’s elevation dropped from 3,582.5 ft on July 23 to 3,580.7 ft on July 30. • High air temperatures at ASE reached 91°F on July 24, or about 11 degrees above normal.
Well-informed citizens are better for the environment! Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who shares interest in our local environment. These Aspen Journalism investigative stories are published for the community and our collaborators as a public service, thanks to the generosity of our readers and funders. This work is not possible without the support of readers like you.