Electronic sign catches fire, closes Aspen airport runway
Closure comes as Wednesday was expected to be airport’s busiest air traffic day of summer
A sign used to indicate landing availability that caught fire Tuesday night has caused a closure of the Aspen airport runway.
The sign, typically lit “X” to let pilots know when the runway is available, caused significant damage to the old pavement at the south end of the runway. The resulting damage has compromised a 20×20 foot section of the runway, which is rapidly deteriorating.
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport Director Dan Bartholomew said the cause of the sign catching fire is currently unknown.
“It’s a new sign, and we’re a little confused ourselves,” he said. “So, we’re trying to figure that out.”
The fire prompted a runway closure for arrivals at 11 a.m. Wednesday. It also has prompted a closure for departures, effective at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
“The airport operations team is working diligently to begin repairs immediately. However, depending on the availability of materials and the time required for the asphalt to cure, the runway may remain closed for several days,” the airport reported in a Wednesday alert. “Throughout the day, the runway will be continuously monitored to ensure safety and assess the extent of the damage. Currently, the airport is expected to reopen Friday morning. Travelers are encouraged to contact their carrier directly for more information regarding their flight schedules.”
“ASE is actively communicating with the FAA, the Fixed-Base Operator (FBO), airline partners, and other airport tenants and staff to manage this situation effectively. Updates will be provided through social media channels,” the alert further states.
Fly Aspen Snowmass airline consultant Bill Tomcich said the runway closure comes as Wednesday was anticipated to the busiest air traffic day of the summer for the Aspen airport. There were 24 flights from three major airlines scheduled Wednesday.
According to Tomcich, some flights bound for Aspen on Wednesday were forced to reroute back to their original departure locations.
“That is the most flights Aspen has seen in summer months,” he said. “I would liken to impact here comparable to what a major snowstorm would do to shut down the airport for a day and a half, except for the fact that we have really good weather today.”
According to Bartholomew, however, the airport is confident the runway will reopen by Friday morning.
“We’ll have a crew coming in with materials first thing tomorrow morning, and we need time for the asphalt to cure,” he said.
Bartholomew said passengers are advised to reach out to their carriers for updates if further delays occur.
Ray K. Erku can be reached at (970) 429-9120 or rerku@aspentimes.com.
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