Private Aircraft, Jet Charters And Their Passengers Flock To Jackson Hole For Eclipse Event

On August 21 at 11:35 a.m. (local time) Jackson Hole, Wyoming will be directly under the totality of the solar eclipse for 2 minutes, 20 seconds, with the partial eclipse lasting for over 2-1/2 hours.

The Jackson Hole valley includes Grand Teton National Park and is adjacent to Yellowstone National Park.  On the exact centerline of the eclipse totality, the southern part of Grand Teton National Park is one of the best places in the entire country to view this event.  

A major summer vacation destination even without a total eclipse, Jackson Hole and the Parks are expected to exceed all-time records for visitors, lodging and traffic.  This increased demand for the eclipse event is resulting in record private jet and charter aircraft traffic at the Jackson Hole Airport, already a popular hub for private jet travel and one of the top 3 summer mountain resort airport destinations in the U.S. along with Aspen, CO and Sun Valley, ID.  Located inside Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Airport is the only airport in the country inside a national park.

The eclipse's centerline path of totality will pass directly over the airport itself.  Private jet traffic surrounding the Aug. 21 date however, will be far from eclipsed.

August is peak season and already a busy month for private jet activity in Jackson Hole, with daily private air operations averaging over 50 arrivals or departures plus more than 20 private aircraft parking on the ramp overnight.

Aircraft parking at Jackson Hole Aviation, the local FBO/private terminal, is expected to jump to near capacity with ramp space possibly filled and the potential of aircraft being turned away.  Depending on the volume of air traffic into Jackson Hole, the FAA may implement Special Traffic Management Programs (STMP) for private aircraft, where advance reservations known as "slots", are needed for arrivals or departures.

Headquartered in Jackson Hole is New Flight Charters, a leader in nationwide private jet charter which arranges around 1,400 custom private jet flights per year.  The company monitors jet charter activity to and from Jackson Hole and is reporting up to ten times the normal activity of private charter aircraft to and from Jackson Hole Airport during this time.

August 18 to 23 is the busiest period, with peak traffic on August 18 and 22.

"Right now, August 18 looks to be busier than a December 26 at the airport," said New Flight Charters president Rick Colson.  "We knew this would be busy but the numbers we are seeing are amazing."  The day after Christmas is normally the busiest day of the year for private jet arrivals, bringing winter vacationers to Jackson Hole and its world renown ski destination Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the Four Seasons Resort and other high-end lodging.

Commercial airline traffic will be increased as well, an additional 15 commercial flights will be landing and departing between August 18 and 23 – three more per day than normal.  The Jackson Hole Airport is already the busiest airport in Wyoming.

The airport is planning for the eclipse.  With its location along the precise centerline of the eclipse's path of totality, access to the airport will be limited for both those on the ground and in the air to help manage crowds and traffic.  The runway will be closed for 1 hour around the approximately 2-minute totality at 11:35am.  The closure will be from 30 minutes before, to 30 minutes after the totality.  And those driving to the airport that day will need their private aircraft's tail number, an airline boarding pass, or a legitimate reason to access to the airport.

Grand Teton National Park, where Jackson Hole Airport is located, is bracing for its busiest day ever.  The Park and Teton County are preparing for potential gridlocked roads, overwhelmed cell phone networks, and completely full public areas including parking lots, campgrounds, boat ramps, and roadway pullouts.

According to Teton park spokeswoman Denise Germann in the July 26 edition of the local Jackson Hole News & Guide, "A typical August day is a very busy day at Grand Teton National Park," Germann said. "This Aug. 21, the day of the total eclipse, we're expecting to be the busiest day in the history of the park."

"Above all else, Germann stressed, visitors should come prepared for a long day. Bring food, water, a full gas tank and necessary medications."

Arriving private jets would be wise to do the same.

(Source: New Flight Charters news release)

FMI: www.newflightcharters.com