Having flown the Idaho backcountry for 20 years or so, I can't even get this one onto the 'most dangerous' list. But it is definitely scenic. Nice video.
Nice vid! Sure brought back memories. I used to fly out of KGWS. I learned to fly My PA-28 235 in Colorado, and it truly made me a better pilot. Landing and taking off out of KGWS was always a challenge whether it was summer or winter. It was rated the most difficult airport in the country by AOPA a few years ago. I've flown in and out of KASE, KTEX, KEGE and several others on Colorado. What a great place to live and fly! I really miss it. Keep sharing the great vids, and blue skies and tailwinds to ya! 😎
It is pretty out there and a nice town but man do I hate flying in there. Cool to see a landing to 33, never been able to land on 33, that was a different perspective. Nicely done, those hills can make things challenging even on VFR days.
Been in and out of Aspen many times, also towed gliders out of there. The most dangerous thing would be to pick the wrong valley when departing on 14. The one to the left looks more inviting but if you are flying something like a 172, you stand a good chance of eating the trees if you head up it.
My first ride was at night coming out of Stapleton on a DC3 as the sun was setting February 1964. Remember the grey cloth seats that smelled musty and what a bumpy ride.. down the ski slope straight in. Surprised that the airport was so accident free in those days.
Every time I've landed at Aspen, it's involved a VMC descent from IFR MEA north of the field to landing on Rwy 15. The most significant challenge is descent gradient...idle/flaps with some s-turns or slip in an SR22, particularly with north wind (which doesn't seem to drive Aspen controllers to change runways until greater than 15 kt tailwind). A rectangular pattern's possible and not dangerous in VMC. But the rocks are close to final from the north, all around approaching from the south, and opposite direction takeoffs are standard with aircraft on final. Wouldn't choose to fly there in IMC--too many opportunities to "excel." But...it is absolutely beautiful. (Look at Glenwood Springs if you want to see someplace less forgiving than Aspen.)
Very nice. I loved your wife's reaction. Is it fair to assume this was the first time she had seen the Colorado Rockies from the air, close up? Next, take her to the Montana/Idaho version of the Rockies. I enjoy your videos. Thank you.
I see this attracts a mixture of pilots and keyboard pilots and Microsoft Flight Simulator pilots, we should all just learn from each other. In poor conditions these pilots would not be filming their flight anyways. Beautiful airport and nice video.
In gusty wind conditions we always carry some extra speed on final approach as a safety margin. With ASE's 8000 foot runway (more than four times what that Cirrus needs to land and stop) it was the correct thing to do.
Look at the fatal accidents that have occurred at KASE. We operated extensively there in the BAe-146. Four round trips plus terminator leg. IFR and Woody Creek visual approaches. The missed approach on 15 is worth looking at on the charts. Jes' don't fly up-valley.
Will have to disagree that it's the most dangerous airport. Good, catchy title though. Made me click! Keep having fun and making films. These are great.
It is one of the most dangerous airports to land at. Add some IFR conditions in winter or windshear during summer and it adds to the degree of difficulty.
I don't call it dangerous either, but it's mostly just a choice of words. A "Dangerous" airport should be closed, period. Aspen and others like it are what I call "tough to get into" or "less accessible." An airport with mines planted under the runway surface is dangerous. No airport is dangerous if the pilot is competent and knows and respects the restrictions of the airport, his aircraft, and himself.
It has a steep approach and upsloping runway. It's tricky and has a one of the worst safety records for commercial traffic. That said the second I landed an A36, ever, was into Aspen on a day like this. My buddy who flys jets into ASPEN in the winter says it is a different beast.
I live in Idaho, where many people fly in the mountains. Aside from the density altitude problems you could encounter, I don't think flying into Aspen even gets you into the top 100. Now, if this was Telluride, that'd be a bit warmer.
Woodscraps1798 been into telluride in IFR conditions not much different from Aspen. Would probably call it easier than Aspen when TEX if VFR. Still not saying it's an easy approach or landing at TEX.
Not sure what to say about 'Dangerous, looks like cake... Maybe try Big Creek Airstrip U-60, Idaho and let me know what you think of that. 5,743' elevation 3,550' by 110' grass strip. Just pop over the hogback descend and land, easy peasy. The dip of the runway makes you appear high so be careful. The left side near the threshold may be wet. On departure turn and follow Big Creek downstream while climbing out...
Naughty naughty! Shut down the engine with the radios on.... although I suspect the modern avionics (G1000 /gns4/530) in a Cirrus would probably cope with the kick off the mags...
@@PirepWakeTurbulence I’m into APA quite often. I’ve used Tac air once several years ago and typically use the Denver jet center since the perfect landing is there. Never have used signature there but might have to try it out!
why does the Cirrus and Cessna TTX have fixed gear? Wouldn't the planes be much more aero dynamic without the landing gear hanging down? Also if you ever had to do a water landing wouldn't they cause you to nose dive hard as soon as you touch the water?
Fixed gear does add drag, but with aerodynamically shaped struts and wheelpants it doesn't amount to much until you start to get up above 200 Kts Indicated airspeed, which is above the never exceed limit for these small single engine aircraft. Fixed gear aircraft have lower maintenance costs as the retractable mechanism requires maintenance and periodic parts replacement. Failure to lower gear on landing is a fairly common cause of accidents and although that usually doesn't result in injury, repairs after a belly landing are expensive and really lower the resale value of the plane. Failure of landing gear to lower or retract because of mechanical issues is also not that uncommon. Insurance costs more for retractable planes, primarily because of the potential to have to cover repairs from gear up landings. Fixed gear aircraft are cheaper to produce and so cost less to buy. Fixed gear is stronger than retractable gear and will stand up to hard landings better. Those are some of the reasons many small General Aviation planes use fixed gear.
Not really a dangerous airport. It just has a smaller margin for missing than an airport, like Mojave, but if you're missing by that much, you shouldn't be flying. It's no more dangerous than landing in an urban area. Catalina, on the other hand, has a bit more of a fear factor, since it's built on a mountain that can actually create a significant amount of sink on the downwind side. Also, Kern Valley Airport seemed to also be a bit scary, if you try to do a turn in the valley it's located in. However, most planes should have plenty of room to do it safely.
And, btw, people that commented this is NOT dangerous airport, probably never been there. Even air lines often dump you in Grand Junction due to x wind, visibility etc....
Ha, Ha, dangerous what a joke. Milford Sound New Zealand might be a little bit more challenging…. or land on the beach at D'urville Island (Gravel Harbour)
Dangerous? I learned flying C-150s out of Essex Skypark near Baltimore that has a 2000' x 30' asphalt strip and that's it! I figure I can land almost Anywhere. I see anything Bigger and I don't know how to act! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_Skypark
1wwtom it's not the runway here, it's the 10,000'+ density altitude, wind shear and commonly landing with tailwinds in excess of 20kts all while surrounded by 13 and 14,000' peaks.
Gotta give some ribbing with a title like that when you have an 8,000 foot runway and plenty of space for a circling climb to altitude. Even if the DA and a tailwind reduced your takeoff performance by a factor of 3 in the Cirrus, you still have lots of runway left over.
Dangerous! Ha! Chicago's Midway is in Cicero baby, you'd be dead in three city blocks walking out of there....oh wait....you meant for landing a plane....oh okay.....
Give me a break. This was click bait. Miles of hard surface runway with clear approaches and departures and lots of nice fairways to land on in an emergency. The wright brothers could have flown out of here.
1:30 - when are folks going to learn to hold their phone sideways to take video? Also, when are phones going to just take the photo in landscape even for fools that hold it in portrait? DOH!
Landing at Aspen is no big deal if you know what you are doing and you are a good pilot. I dont recommend it for a student, but if you have over 500 hours with at least 100 hours of mountain flying...you should not have any issues. I have been in and out of there more times than I can count to remember with at least half of my landing in real IMC conditions. Go over to Telluride and try that airport. Your camera is mounted too low.
