Flying into mountain airports during the winter takes a little bit of planning. Here are three tips for making sure you get safely to and from the slopes.
Know what terrain you’re wanting.
Whether it’s a terrain park (Whistler Blackcomb, B.C., Canada), a family-friendly experience (Beaver Creek Resort, Beaver Creek, CO) or expert runs (Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Teton Village, WY) knowing what type of experience you’re looking for can help in deciding your skiing destination.
Make sure you arrive before sunset.
In order to provide you with the highest level of safety, operators cannot fly into mountain airports at night unless they can provide electronic precision course guidance. Currently, only the airport in Rifle, Colorado, offers this type of approach. If you need to arrive in the evening and are okay with a slightly longer drive, Rifle is the closest airport to Aspen and Eagle with an instrument landing system.
Be flexible.
The weather in the mountains can change as quickly as some people change their minds. When the weather reports look bad for flying, we will work with you to secure an alternate time or airport to meet your schedule. Often a storm that’s blanketing one airport may not affect another. That’s where your flexibility regarding the type of private aircraft you fly can increase the likelihood of us getting you to your destination on schedule, with no trade-offs on your part in comfort or safety. The bottom line for flying into mountain resorts is to plan and be flexible. American Flight Support can’t guarantee the weather, but we’ll take care of everything else.