Safety
Aspen Airport Establishes Genav Safety Task Force
After scores of general avaition accidents over the past several decades, Colorado's Aspen/Pitkin County Airport has established a safety task force.
Crashed Hawker 800XP at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport
Aspen-Pitkin County's board of commissioners has approved the establishment of a panel of seasoned pilots to examine operations at KASE and make recommendations to improve safety. The airport has seen more than 40 general aviation accidents over the past few decades. (Photo: Aspen-Pitkin County Airport)

Given Colorado’s Aspen-Pitkin County Airport’s (KASE) reputation as an operationally challenging airport, the county board of commissioners last week approved the establishment of a flight operations safety task force. The Aspen/Pitkin County Vision Committee recommended to the commission the establishment of an advisory group composed of 12 local pilots with familiarity of the airport to maximize safety and reduce aviation accidents.

Over the past several decades, KASE has experienced dozens of general aviation aircraft accidents in its vicinity due to factors such as its altitude, surrounding mountainous terrain, weather, and a sloping runway.