Asks FAA To Come Observe The Situation, Offer Solutions

Airport officials at Aspen's Sardy Field (KASE) are concerned about what seems to be an increasing number of people wandering onto a taxiway that is used by private jet traffic moving to and from the runway. They've requested that the FAA come take a look at the situation over the President's Day holiday, and hopefully get some ideas as to how to stop it.

Aspen Airport Aerial View

Airport Director Jim Elwood wrote a memo to the Pitkin County commissioners saying he wants the FAA "to evaluate and assess instances involving vehicles or pedestrians straying onto the taxiway without authorization."

Elwood told the Aspen Daily News that the problem seems to mostly involve tourists getting off airplanes and wanting to take pictures of the surrounding area. He said that they often walk onto the taxiway to get a good view of the scenery. But there was also a pilot walking around on the taxiway trying to get better cell phone reception. 

Elwood said the condition became a problem when the FAA required the airport to move its taxiway 100 feet to the east. That caused a grassy area to be paved over that had been a natural barrier between the apron and the taxiway. Now that natural barrier no longer exists, and people just walk across the pavement to the taxiway. Cars coming to pick up passengers also are winding up on the taxiway with increading frequency.

Elwood said his biggest concern is that people and airplanes are safe, and that's why he's asked the FAA for its help. “We just want to make sure we’re operating at the highest standard of safety.”

FMI: www.aspenairport.com