Central Colorado Regional (KAEJ), Colorado
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Central Colorado Regional (KAEJ) serves the Buena Vista area from a high-elevation site in the Colorado mountains, roughly 50 nautical miles from the nearest metro area. The airport is uncontrolled and operates on a single paved runway, with business aviation accounting for the large majority of its annual traffic according to FAA TFMSC data. Its mountain setting brings terrain, wildlife, and cold-weather operational notes that are relevant to flight planning at this elevation.
Runways
Central Colorado Regional has one paved runway, 15/33, 8,303 ft long and 75 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Central Colorado Regional has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 8am to 3pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Central Colorado Regional does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Eagle County Regional (KEGE), 62 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Central Colorado Regional recorded 579 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July and August. Business aviation traffic at Central Colorado Regional (KAEJ) concentrates in the summer months, peaking in July and August according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month August, 90 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Central Colorado Regional averages 3.2 days above 90°F in July, 31.0 freeze days in January and 2.6 snow days in February. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83.2°F, and December the coldest, at 40.1°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Central Colorado Regional has published operating constraints in three categories: runway notes, environmental and other notes.
MIRL for runway 15/33 and PAPI for runways 15 and 33 are pilot-activated via CTAF.
A 3-foot drainage ditch runs 170 feet east of the runway 15/33 centerline for the full length of the runway.
Runway 15 has a tree, 25 feet or taller, located 765 feet from the threshold and 275 feet right of centerline.
Deer are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
All taxiways are marked with blue and yellow reflectors.
The PAPI is unusable beyond 9 degrees left of course.
This is a cold temperature airport. Altitude correction is required at or below minus 21 degrees Celsius.
For clearance delivery, contact Denver ARTCC.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Central Colorado Regional has five airfields within 43 NM. The closest is Salida / Harriett Alexander Field (KANK), 16.91 NM south.
Part of the Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KAEJ
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KAEJ.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What runway length is available at KAEJ?
Central Colorado Regional (KAEJ) has a single runway, 15/33, measuring 8,303 feet long and 75 feet wide with an asphalt surface. This is the same length listed as the airport's maximum paved runway distance. The field sits at a high elevation of 7,950 feet, which affects density altitude performance planning for turbine and piston operators alike. Pilots should account for reduced climb performance given the combination of runway length, elevation, and warm-season temperatures. No parallel or crosswind runway exists, so wind coverage is limited to the 15/33 orientation.
Is fuel available at Central Colorado Regional Airport?
Central Colorado Regional (KAEJ) stocks both 100LL and Jet A fuel. The airport is attended daily from 0800 to 1500 local time, which defines the window for fueling and other services. Outside these hours, operators should plan fuel needs in advance since staffed support is not guaranteed. The field is uncontrolled, with no operating control tower, so radio coordination for fuel or ramp access is handled through CTAF. Flight planning for turbine aircraft should confirm Jet A availability directly given the limited attendance window.
Does KAEJ have customs clearance onsite?
Central Colorado Regional (KAEJ) does not have onsite customs processing. The nearest customs facility is at KEGE, located approximately 62 nautical miles away. Operators arriving internationally must route through KEGE or another designated port of entry before proceeding to KAEJ. This distance should factor into fuel and routing plans for any flight requiring customs clearance. Dispatchers should confirm current procedures with the customs facility at KEGE ahead of any international arrival planning involving Central Colorado Regional.
When is business aviation traffic highest at Central Colorado Regional?
Business aviation traffic at Central Colorado Regional (KAEJ) concentrates heavily in the summer months. According to FAA TFMSC data for 2025, August recorded 90 operations and July recorded 89, the two highest months of the year. By contrast, April saw only 13 operations, the lowest monthly total. This pattern reflects a strong seasonal skew toward summer activity at KAEJ. Operators planning visits during peak months should expect comparatively higher ramp and fuel demand than in the shoulder or winter seasons.
What cold weather procedures apply at KAEJ?
Central Colorado Regional (KAEJ) is designated a cold temperature airport, requiring altitude corrections at or below minus 21 degrees Celsius. This designation affects instrument approach procedures, since published altitudes may not provide adequate obstacle clearance under extreme cold without pilot-applied corrections. Given the airport's 7,950-foot elevation and winter climate data showing over 30 days below freezing in December and January, this correction requirement is operationally relevant for a significant portion of the year. Crews flying instrument approaches into Central Colorado Regional during cold months should apply the required corrections per published cold temperature restricted airport procedures.