During the upcoming 2021-2022 ski season for the Aspen-Pitkin County/ Sardy Field Airport (KASE), Denver Center will be utilizing traffic management programs such as ATC playbook routing, miles-in-trail, and ground delay initiatives to manage the airport traffic flow. The traffic capacity at KASE is dependent upon weather conditions, aircraft parking availability, and varying arrival/ departure demand throughout the day. Operators should expect similar ramp and air traffic capacity as in previous years.

Denver Center is expecting peak traffic times from December 17, 2021- January 3, 2022, January 14-17, 2022. February 11-14, 2022 and weekends in March and April for Spring Break. Peak traffic times will occur between 1700-0000 UTC (1000-1700 MST) with the highest volume on weekends. Outside of the above dates, peak traffic times occur between 1700-2100 UTC (1000-1400 MST) and again, with the highest volume on weekends.

During the peak holiday season, pilots planning flights into KASE should be prepared for significant enroute and arrival delays and are encouraged to file early to avoid travel during peak traffic periods. Ground delays will be implemented when airspace or parking reach capacity and may result in lengthy departure delays for operators. Operators should note that late afternoon departure delays from KASE could prevent aircraft from departing prior to sunset.

Due to the high volume of IFR operations, VFR operations into KASE should expect extensive delays, especially during peak traffic periods from 1700-2100 UTC (1000-1400 MST).

IFR flights operating into KASE should file one of the following preferred routes between the hours of 1500-0100 UTC (0800-1800 MST) daily:

PWE  PUB  RODDY  KANON  HAREI  DBL  KASE      GCK  PUB  RODDY  KANON  HAREI  DBL  KASE

FTI  RSK  IBSKI  SINCY  LOYYD  SKIER  KASE         KA36S  RSK  IBSKI  SINSY  LOYYD  SKIER  KASE

INW  IBSKI  SINSY  LOYYD  SKIER  KASE                 DICEE  IBSKI  SINSY  LOYYD  SKIER  KASE

ERRDA  SINSY  LOYYD  SKIER  KASE                       WAAGR  SINSY  LOYYD  SKIER  KASE