Just flew in today and planning my commute out. Due to the runway expansion project UAX let everyone know today that they plan on a divert to EGE if tailwinds pick up. Can I expect the Q400 to be weight restricted flying ASE-DEN?

 

YV Dash 8-200's were approved to circle to RWY 33. I believe Lynx did also with the Quatro. Your planned ride may be allowed to circle and avoid the tailwind. The jets cannot circle.

 

I wasn't aware that there were any UAX Q's in DEN. Who is supposedly flying them?

 

There aren't any UAX Q400s in DEN. As someone very familiar with the UAX ASE ops I know what the original poster is asking. The poster knows that United Express CR7 will be having performance problems getting in and out of ASE as the runway is shortened, so he is wondering if Republic's Q400s will have weight issues in and out of ASE. I know that Republic (previously Lynx) can circle, so tailwinds won't be an issue for them on landing. On takeoff, I have only seen them depart Runway 33 as runway 15 requires a waiver for departure. I'm not sure what their tailwind component is for takeoff, but with the runway now being shortened to 6500ft from 7000ft and on some days shortened to 6000ft, I think a tailwind for departure off 33 can give them weight restriction issues as well. It's no secret, (United does not have flights booked on these days) Skywest is not operating in and out of ASE on the days that the runway is 6000ft long.

 

The Q at Lynx was approved for 20 kt tailwind departures, but with the runway shortened it might affect that.

 

If their 20 knot tailwind restrictions are similar to ours it's quite easy to actually do it, so runway length (and climb performance of the Q4) would be the primary limitation.

I'll see what the length penalty is tomorrow if they stick it on our performance numbers.

 

A couple years ago Durango had the runway shortened to less than 6000 ft if I remember right, and we were usually only booked to 66 people for weight restrictions on the Q4. But even though it was the middle of the summer we still would usually take a full boat or very close to it (around 70-72ish).

 

That sounds like a decent comparison to ASE. For those not familiar, DRO is about 6600ft MSL, ASE is about 7700ft MSL.