Campbell: Eagle County Regional Airport Radar System Close

Campbell: Airport Radar System Close
Vail Daily News, CO

January 8, 2004


Radar for the Eagle County Regional Airport isn't exactly a done deal, but it's 
closer than ever, according to U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.

"It's coming along ... We've been working on this for six or seven years now," 
said Campbell, who came through the Eagle Valley this week on campaign tour of 
the state. The Republican senator is seeking re-election in November.

Campbell said the system Eagle County originally requested hasn't yet been 
approved for use in mountainous areas by the Federal Aviation Administration. 
However, he said, the FAA has approved a different kind of radar system.

That doesn't mean a radar system is imminent, though. Eagle County Commissioner 
Michael Gallagher said the county will first install a new instrument landing 
system to aid commercial and private aircraft flying into the airport, then 
work radar into that system.

Gallagher said the new system is a "secondary" type of radar.

"Instead of sending out a signal that bounces back off of rocks, trees and mule 
deer, this "secondary' system seeks out transponders on aircraft, which then 
tell it, "Here I am,'" Gallagher explained

Campbell, who said he used to fly in and out of Eagle regularly when he flew 
small airplanes, said the county airport needs a radar system to enhance 
safety, both here and at other airports.

"The airport at Aspen has worse weather than this one," he noted. "Planes often 
get re-routed to Eagle."

When radar is installed at the county airport, it will make operations both 
safer and allow more planes to land in cloudy or snowy weather. The current 
flight control system allows just four landings per hour during foul weather. 
That can leave planes circling, at times for long periods. A radar system will 
allow more planes to come in when the weather is less than perfect.

"Sen. Campbell has been particularly helpful and patient as we've gone through 
this process," said Gallagher.

Eagle County, like other airports in the country, is also dealing with the 
demands of increased security. While Congress authorized formation of a 
Department of Homeland Security in its last session, Campbell acknowledged that 
"We may never get a fail-safe system," adding, "Even if we can get a fail-safe 
system for commercial flights, there's still a weakness with general aviation."

Still, he added, "We've made great progress."


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