nagginpilotwife

My husband and I are having a dispute over a flight he is taking. I am chicken of when he flies in the mountains and this one has me nervous.

Anyways, he is flying 5 passengers out of Aspen and refueling in Grand Junction which is 78 miles a way.

While I am no expert at all I worry. We lost some friends from one of his companies due to not being able to climb so anytime he is in the mountains I get so nervous.

So all you experts put my mind at ease or give me the authority to tell him not to do it.

Thanks!

rickair7777

Airlines operate at least one turbojet type (CRJ700) on scheduled aspen service...and I'm pretty sure that a lear can outclimb that.

Also since they are making an immediate fuel stop, they are departing as light as possible to enhance performance.

Assuming that they know EXACTLY (by memory) what their escape procedure is in case of an engine failure, it doesn't sound unreasonable.

saabguy493

The Lear 31 probably will out climb the CRJ anyway. If they can do it, then he will have no problem! Don't worry!!!

ZapBrannigan

The high temperature at ASE is forecast to be 27 degrees C all week (81F). According to an airport analysis (by APG), taking off to the north the 31a is good for 15112 pounds.

If the airplane has an 11,000 lb empty weight, 5 pax for roughly 1000 lbs, and say 200 lbs of bags, that puts us at 12,200. That leaves almost 3000 lbs for fuel just to hop over to Junction.

Looks like as long as your hubby has the alternate DP for Aspen provided by one of the airport analysis providers he should be in good shape!

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JoeBlack

It's usually harder to stop that Lear from climbing and levelling it off then making it climb! Quite easy to peg the IVSI at 6,000ft climb with a light load.

The 31 combines the wing of the 55 with the body of a 35. It climbs like a bat of off hell. It likes cruising in the FL450-FL490 range.

nagginpilotwife

Thanks for putting my mind at ease. I am always worried about him out on the road but when he tells me about mountain flying I get especially worried.

Sandhawk

I bet the 28/29 is even better with the CJ610s!!!

JoeBlack

Yes, but the CJ610's burn the same on the ground running at idle as at FL430 @ 95%.

MillerTime

28/29 ??

JoeBlack

Learjet 25 with longhorn wing (winglets and no tip tanks, like the 55 & 31)

Learjet 28 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aviation Photos: Gates Learjet 28/29


The 29 has a double size fuselage fuel tank (like the 25C and 36).

Only 5 28's and 4 29's were build.