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October 03, 2006
(Jet) Fuel Efficient in Aspen Snowmass
Here is the latest article from the Aspen Times By Scott Condon
When United Express switched its aircraft that serves Aspen, it essentially dumped a gas guzzler for a fuel-efficient model, according to research by an Aspen businessman.
Bill Tomcich, president of Stay Aspen Snowmass, a central bookings office, figured the shift from BAE-146 aircraft to the CRJ-700 could improve fuel efficiency by about 40 percent.
Air Wisconsin used the BAE-146 when it operated United Express flights between Aspen and Denver. Sky West took over operations in April and switched to the CRJ-700.
The BAE-146 had four engines to tackle the difficult logistics of landing and taking off at Pitkin County Airport. While it served the market well for several years, there is no denying it was one of the biggest gas guzzlers in the industry, said Tomcich.
"It had the relative fuel economy of a 20-year-old Jeep Wagoneer," he said.
The switch made Tomcich curious about fuel economy and emissions reductions.
A report released by the city of Aspen last year concluded that a whopping 22 percent of Aspen's total annual greenhouse gas emissions come from commercial flights. Another 19 percent comes from private aircraft, according to the report's inventory of greenhouse gases.
Posted by jmidthun at October 3, 2006 10:54 AM
