Originally Posted by
Westernflight
They wouldn't make it a big deal if the FAA didn't make it a big deal. Flying in there in a Falcon or Challenger is a lot different than in an RJ. The 700 currently is the only plane with the single engine performance to "extract" itself out of there. It's not a big deal till you lose an engine shortly after V1 in the middle of a blizzard, then you better hope all that extra sim training pays dividends. I'm not saying that another airline couldn't do it. But so far only SkyWest spent the money to fly their own jets empty in there for months during the summer, practicing V1 cuts to validate to the FAA our lower than standard approach minimums (for ASE)... Something the bizjet guys don't' have.
This topic has gotten way off track. Hope you guys get your money. If this isn't grounds to strike or "informational picket" I don't know what is.
Well, all I can tell you is that pilots here are more than capable. And ASE isn't the measure of one's mountain flying abilities. Funny you mention engine failures... I have actually had one in the mountains. Angel Fire/Taos area.
And maybe AAG will give the Envoy 709 flying to SkyWest? I don't know. All I know is that AAG does t want the CRJ at Envoy. I imagine if PSA can't take them then someone else will.