Merrill: Citizens against Bigger Planes opposes both recent Aspen airport layout plans

Ironically, Jamie Klein’s letter, “Understanding the facts of Aspen airport,” on April 3 contains errors!

First: Klein is correct that passenger arrivals depend on bed space. If the expansionist forecast were based on bed space history, it would have predicted 2/3 LESS growth and no “need” for bigger planes.

Second: None of the commercial jets landing here are being phased out nor retired. The county forecaster (William Flock) confirms 20-30 more years of useful life for the CRJ 700. The Embraer 175 will eventually take its place and fits today’s airfield.

Third: The “new group,” Citizens against Bigger Planes, advocates for local control of the private air terminal and for hiring a skilled firm, like Atlantic Aviation, to manage it — BUT on a short term (not 30 years) contract. Its big profits would stay at ASE to finance the restored runway and new terminal.

Fourth: Citizens against Bigger Planes opposes both recent airport layout plans. The latest ALP does NOT require moving the control tower but lets in bigger planes, which the airlines haven’t asked for.

Lastly, Klein credits the BOCC with choosing good designs and representing county residents but does NOT indicate they are competent, private aviation contract managers.

Why not?

The BOCC has spent NO time reviewing the detailed AspenFlyRight.com analyses that prove there is no need for FAA grants. They also haven’t considered alternatives to bigger planes.

Given the county’s one-sided propaganda, a November vote on the airport in may be the only way to know what our voters really want.

Jackie Merrill

Aspen