Central Colorado Regional Airport (KAEJ)

Central Colorado Regional Airport, also called CCRA, is a general aviation airport in Buena Vista, Colorado. The Town of Buena Vista runs the airport. It sits at 7,950 feet and occupies 185 acres. The airport has an FBO lobby and a terminal with pilot facilities.

The airport welcomes over 15,000 people a year and is a gateway to the town and region. It serves as a reliever for other airports in central Colorado, including Aspen, Vail, Gunnison and Rifle. Visitors can explore the scenery and recreation the area offers.

The airport has a long history of supporting air medical and emergency transport, search and rescue efforts and military aviation training. It also supports Mountain West UAS operations and high altitude helicopter testing teams. The website says there are no facility fees, and landing fees are reasonable. Fuel is well priced. The site says the staff are friendly.

The runway is 15/33, an asphalt runway measuring 8,300 feet by 75 feet with a full length taxiway. The site says it is the longest high altitude runway in Colorado. It regularly takes aircraft up to 70,000 pounds gross weight. Pilots should call airport staff before landing heavier aircraft. An RNAV (GPS) approach is available. Medium intensity runway lighting is switched on with five clicks on 122.8. Runway 15 uses a GPS departure with a right hand traffic pattern. Runway 33 uses a GPS approach with a left hand traffic pattern.

The executive hangar has 12,974 square feet of space. It is available for transient aircraft and high altitude testing. Recent upgrades include a full hangar kitchen for testing teams, two new bathrooms with showers, and a high speed Wi-Fi network that reaches the aprons.

The pilot lounge has showers, a flight planning room overlooking the main hangar and free Wi-Fi. The FBO lobby has seating, a TV with news and weather, bottled water and coffee. The outdoor quad has benches and a picnic table. A large conference room has a Zoom ready TV, a conference phone line and a kitchenette.

The airport's long term vision includes infrastructure for more hangars, aviation businesses at the airpark and renewed pavement. The website describes the airport as an economic engine for the town and Chaffee County, and a transportation hub for on demand passengers and cargo.

Services

• Executive hangar
• Transient hangar space
• Pilot lounge with showers
• Flight planning room
• Free Wi-Fi
• Conference room
• FBO lobby
• Medium intensity runway lighting
• RNAV (GPS) approach
• Hangar kitchen for testing teams