No worries though. An airport that regains control over ground issue (while the FAA handles air safety), can discriminate against various commercial and private aircraft. The stunning scenery, (pun intended), the ski slopes and the relaxed feel of the . Reagan National Airport, Washington, D.C. Pilots have to be especially skilled to fly into this difficult airport. According to Honeywell, pilots can always count on serious tailwinds as they approach San Diego International Airport, and terrain issues as they land. Experience is a plus but not required for the right, Seeking Professional Day and Night Drivers Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Aspen & Vail Set your own schedule weekly Top Drivers Earn, The Ute Mountaineer is seeking a Marketing Coordinator. The same goes for Snowmass. In a recent letter to the editor, longtime local aviator John McBride suggested that the gargantuan expansion proposed for the Aspen airport seems to be targeting the wrong airstrip. Searching the world for the most amazing People, Places and Things. It's no wonder: The airport sits in a high mountain bowl that requires a series of rapid "step-downs" as soon as the pilot clears the mountain range, dropping around 2,400 feet in one minute. General aviation services are provided by Atlantic Aviation, the airport's sole fixed-base operator. Aspen doesnt make the grade but here are the best major U.S. airports. For rough guidance, these restrictions preclude aircraft like the current 737 series and larger. McBride writes: A plan to spend $400 million to move the runway 80 feet west (bringing the flight path nearer to Shale Bluffs) and to build a new terminal up to the size of almost two football fields will not change any of these concerns.. That's been the experience of the pilot who spoke to AOL Travel, "They are unbelievably demanding. It's almost completely surrounded by water in the Sitka Sound and weather can get a little crazy, so pilots have to watch out for boulders and debris that often wash from the causeway onto the island's only runway. Airplane pilot group on a mission to curb crashes in and out of Aspen San Diego International Airport, San Diego. It might be scary but it sure is beautiful to land on St. Maarten. Located in the French Alps, near the Italian border, sits this dangerous airport serving ski resorts and their daredevil guests. The airport is built on the side of a mountain with a small one direction runway that is only 1,600 feet long with serious slopes and angles. According to the Aviation Global Incident Map, there wereover 500 emergency landings and 20 plane crashes worldwide this year, and none of them were at any of the most dangerous airports. But the truth is that underneath that crisp blue uniform and bright smile is often someone who hates much of his or her job. The one-way landing has to be very fast since the end of the runway has a cliff with a very steep fall into the waters below. Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras (ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images). Aspen-Pitkin county / Sardy Field in Colorado is listed as one of America's most dangerous airports. And once you disembark you can be swept up by the hurricane force gusts. Any airport that requires special pilot training easily makes a list of the most dangerous airports in the world. The airport meets modified FAA D-III airport reference code standards. Pilots are forced to make a dramatic sharp turn and land near the valley, and the experience is often compared to landing on an aircraft carrier. It was so unnerving to fly into that researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Alaska Airlines worked together to develop an electronic monitoring system to track when there is a quick shift in wind speed and direction. This Ice Runway is built on the bare volcanic rock of Hut Point Peninsula on Ross Island with a runway that is made completely of "white ice", (four inches of compacted snow.). The ambitious project won the 2004 Outstanding Structure Award which is considered the Oscars of structural engineering. The destination is particularly treacherous due to strong and highly variable Atlantic winds, mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. And dont forget that the runway was extended from 5,249 feet to 9, 124 feet by building it out into the ocean on 180 concrete pillars it is now like a runway on stilts! On my next visit, I will be taking the ferry from neighboring St. Maarten. Congonhas Airport / Sao Paulo, Brazil Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport iswell known to pilots for its short runway and dangerous approach. Short runways covered in ice, extremely cold temperatures, severe winds, and low visibility due to not only heavy snow but also ash clouds from nearby active volcanoes make landing at Narsarsuaq Airport in Greenland not for the faint of heart. Engineers had to build a platform to expand this runway, where the landing stripis located between steep cliffs and the ocean. The airport in Bhutanallows only 17 qualified pilots who are authorized to land on a runway that is surrounded by severe 18,000-foot mountain peaks. The dangers of flying into Aspen were illuminated in 2001, when a Gulfstream charter jet airplane "hit a hill and then plunged across a 200 foot culvert between the hill and the airport before. We are landing at 9pm night and taking off at 140pm from ase. Due to non-standard runway/taxiway separation, the airport has a 95ft (29m) aircraft wingspan limitation. The situation of MCAS Futenma, according to The Diplomat is in direct violation of the safety standards set down for military airfields by the U.S. Department of the Navy, in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. The dangerous U.S. Marine Corps Air Station runway sits smack dab in the middle of a crowded city, with schools, hospitals, businesses, and more than 3,000 residents in what is supposed to be a clear zone.. He is the proud dad of teen daughters. In 2011 this runway was . The food [is terrible] and it's insanely expensive. } ASE - Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Aspen, Colorado) "Pilots flying into Aspen-Pitkin County Airport require special training as they face a steep approach path and must use a separate navigation aid if they need to pursue a missed approach. An October 2018 opinion piece in the Aspen Times began with an ominous statement; "The Aspen Airport is rated the most dangerous in the United States." The airport has been the scene of. Letter to the Editor Letter-to-the-editor | September 8, 2020. My hubby is a . I have landed on RW 33 numerous times, but never with low ceilings or low visibility, only during VFR conditions with high winds. This airport is located in the southern part of Greenland and in the middle of countless Fjords. Library job allowed him to plan the escape. Of course, this is the reason why the No. With no lights on the runway and during a whiteout, pilots are trained to land blind. Instead, McBride suggests developing the Rifle airport as a more sensible regional airport, taking advantage of a much larger and flatter valley, an existing 7,000-foot-long East/West runway with takeoffs/landings in the same direction, and with an elevation almost 2,500 feet lower than Aspen to allow greater lift and milder weather conditions. To make things worse, one writer points out that the crosswinds here are intense, due to the airport's water-adjacent location. Today, I would vote no. In the winter, its regular, weekly flights number more than 170 (not including extra flights often run during busy holiday seasons). Luckily, the plane was stopped by the Engineered Materials Arrestor System at the end of the runway before it plunged over a cliff. Its high elevation can make getting lift during take-off more difficult, especially for smaller planes. And on takeoff, pilots must ascend quickly and sharply turn left so they don't fly over the White House. Paul Andersen. The runway at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport was lengthened and widened in 1983 to be 7,006 feet long by 100 feet wide. Since an aborted landing of a heavy loaded aircraft requires a 180-degree turn back out of the valley (which is highly unusual), some aircraft make it, others might not, especially if an engine fails. No one was injured in the incident . Just in time for summer, one of the busiest flying seasons of the year, Airfarewatchdog.com, part of the Smarter Travel Media Network, has released its picks for the scariest airports in the United States. Everest. xhr.send(payload); In partnership with the Aspen Chamber, guest services is conveniently located in the baggage area equipped with the most current information you need during your stay. Danger may be your middle name but this airport is treacherous not only because of the extremely short runway but because of its height, location between mountains, and, oh yeah, the lack of power and air traffic controllers. } This massive airport can be a pain for plenty of passengers trying to catch a connecting flight, but for pilots, the wind there is what's most frustrating. Now I see there is no plan for a west side taxiway, but instead, a midfield crossing. And the parents? Per a Forbes report, this regional airport serving the 12 million people of Sao Paulo is located in a heavily built-up part of the huge city and gives you the impression that you are scraping the tops of high rise buildings as you land. In addition to the busy metropolis rising up from the ground to make this airport one of the worlds most dangerous, the runways are considered the most slippery in the world and have resulted in a large number of fatal crashes.. Positioned in the Himalayan mountains, the 9,325 feet high Tenzing airport was named after the first two climbers that scaled Mt. The 10 Most Difficult Airports for Pilots in the U.S. [1] Aspen/Pitkin Co. Airport/Sardy Field covers an area of 573 acres (232ha) at an elevation of 7,820 feet (2,384 m) above mean sea level. The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is certificated as a Class I, ARFF Index B commercial service airport under FAR Part 139. Many of the things that make Aspen so desirable also make the city's airport dangerous. It's old. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); It is located in a heavily built-up part of thehuge city and gives you the impression that you are scraping the tops of high rise buildings as you land. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport to Close May 10-24, 2023 for Airfield Pavement Maintenance Learn more. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { I flew into Aspen regularly for 26 years, many, many weekends every year, starting before they had an approach and would clear you to SKIER intersection at 16,000 feet to hold. Wellington International Airport / New Zealand This airport features a one-lane 6,351-foot runway that appears to startand end in the water. Aspen airport reopens after landing incident Saturday, no injuries If no one will inform us, we should do it ourselves. And so it goes . Aspen-Pitkin County Airport; Aspen, CO. Shutterstock. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport - Wikipedia No thank you! 15 Most Dangerous Airports in the US [Update 2023] - USA by Numbers Get ready for a bumpy landing if you're flying into this California airport. Aspen Airport History | Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, ASE Englands The Telegraph also ranks Aspen No. Let's also not forget one of the most famous crashes that started at LaGuardia, US Airways flight 1549, which landed in the Hudson River after hitting a flock of birds and losing both engines.