ASPEN, COLO. - On June 7, the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) will conduct its triennial exercise to test the community’s emergency response capabilities. This full-scale exercise, held every three years, involves the airport’s Sardy Field Fire Department and mutual aid partners from across the county. As part of ASE’s Commercial Operating Certificate, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires ASE to have an Airport Emergency Plan. The FAA also requires annual recertification for the airport’s on-site firefighters.
The Airport Emergency Plan is tested during the triennial with a simulated crash of a commercial aircraft. During this exercise, a simulated - aircraft, connected to propane tanks, allows fires to be set at various locations. Emergency personnel enter the fiery simulated aircraft fuselage to retrieve dummies, which are treated by nearby medical teams. Community volunteers participate, some wearing makeup to simulate injuries, and staff from other Western Slope airports observe and provide feedback. The triennial exercise is one of many drills at ASE. The airport performs emergency exercises regularly; each year, ASE completes a tabletop exercise, which is also an FAA requirement; and this year’s triennial is being held during what’s known as “burn week,” when ASE’s Sardy Field firefighters are tested on their response skills.
Burn week, which runs from June 1-7, is an intensive training period for ASE’s Sardy Field firefighters. During this week, firefighters undergo drills to enhance their response capabilities. These drills include controlled burns, which simulate real-life emergency scenarios involving fire. The controlled burns are an essential part of the training, ensuring that ASE firefighters are well-prepared to handle actual emergencies.
Please be aware that from June 1-7, smoke may be visible from Colorado Highway 82 due to the controlled burns conducted during burn week. This is not an emergency. The fires are part of the planned safety training exercises and are closely monitored by trained professionals. Signs and announcements will be put up along Highway 82 to inform the public about the ongoing exercises.
On the day of the triennial exercise, June 7, regular airport operations will continue; the exercise will be held in an area of the airfield unaffected by daily flights. The public may be able to see the exercise from the terminal.
To participate in the triennial as a volunteer, sign up here.