HomeMy WebLinkAboutpublic comment - keefer Betty Pfister remarks by Patricia Jayne(Pat)Keefer pikeefer@gmaiLmm
Thank you for this brief time.To stay on time, I'll read my remarks.
For the record, my name is Pat Keefer
I am a summer and winter Pitkin county resident at 90 Carriage Way in Snowmass
While I'm President of Capitol Peak's HOA,Pm here as a pilot today.Together with my Hall of Fame
mother, Marion Jayne,we won the Gold Medal in the longest pilot-skilled speed race around the world
in 24 days in 1994.
50 years before our victory Betty Haas was serving her country as a pilot in WWII. Even though she and
her family lost her older brother to the war effort,Betty persisted in her service.
The purpose in speaking today is to informally talk about honoring Hall of Fame pilot Betty Haas Pfister.
This is all about recognition and inspiration.
But first,congratulations to the Board,John Kinney and Jon Peacock on the FAA's acceptance of the
airport's Environmental Assessment, I know this was a multi-party, multi-year effort.it paves the way
for a much brighter future for the airport-pun intended
Our airport here is unique among airports served by commercial airlines.Because of the high
surrounding terrain in a narrow valley at a high altitude,for all but the smallest and slowest airplanes, it
is a one-way airport.Even Jackson Hole and the airport at Kathmandi,Nepal located(3.1 mi)from the
city are two-way airports
The only way commercial airlines will come here is with a control tower.
It was Betty Pfister who got the FAA to approve a control tower here. First, they said "No, it wasn't
justified" and then Betty went to work.How hard do you think it was to get the United States Federal
Government in the form of the Federal Aviation Administration to change its mind'+
Imagine for a moment if Betty had not been successful,Imagine Aspen without commercial service or
the dozens of private jets
Airports are huge economic engines for an area,Commissioner Sardy got the airport, Betty Pfister made
it the economic engine it is today.
Beyond her WWII service Betty's incredible quadruple threat of pilot skills as a fixed wing pilot,
helicopter pilot,balloon pilot and glider pilot were put to work in legendary and legacy contributions to
her community.
She designed and led the efforts for the first heliport at a hospital in Colorado-you'd think Denver
would have been first,but no,Betty got it done here.
Betty was a major force in Mountain Air Rescue—over the objections of her children who complained
about having a gurney in their living room—after all, none of their friends had that stuff in the way that
interfered with their play space.
Betty and her husband Art also organized the old-timer's dinners and Betty put together the Snowmass
Balloon races, now the Snowmass Balloon festival
Here's a shameless plug for my second home,the Balloon Festival is September 7/8/9 this year. Be sure
to stay for the Saturday evening Glow Show in Snowmass Base Village that features a balloon glow and a
free concert.The balloons fire up in time with the music.Aspen doesn't have anything like this. It's as
spectacular as fireworks but better because you can walk up and see it happen at eye level
How many of us can say something we did in the 1960s or 70s or 80s lives on in our community today
and continues to make substantial positive contributions So far,everyone I've spoken with believes
Betty's community contributions are worthy of very public recognition.
Let me take that one step further,when Greg graciously met with me to discuss honoring Betty Pfister,
he talked a little bit about the plans for the airport and that the Board desired to stay with stairs to exit
planes at the airport,so people would know immediately by the surrounding mountains that they were
in Aspen.That's the Aspen inspirational arrival experience
Let's talk about how we can continue to energize our visitors with an equally inspirational departure
experience by sharing more than our mountain memories,we can share our community figures that
made Aspen Snowmass Pitkin County the great place it is today.
There's a reason Eisenhower tunnel is named as it is Dwight David Eisenhower was the chief architect of
our interstate system. Did you know he designed so that about every few miles there is a straight stretch
that can act as an airport if war came to our continent?There's a reason the Denver international
airport terminal is named in honor of Elrey Jeppesen for his safety aids to flying,especially mountain
flying.
Betty has been honored internationally, nationally,statewide and here but you have to look for current
public recognition.
If we do it right in a very public way,our visitors will see and read about Betty Pfister and be inspired by
what she accomplished—especially when you realize only 10%of the pilot both then and now are
women.
My goal today is to start the conversation. I am in hopes that as the planning for the airport continues
that this little introduction will inspire the Board to create very public recognition of this legendary
aviation community leader so that the departure waiting experience at the Aspen Pitkin county airport is
as inspirational as its arrival,when you first smell that crisp mountain air.
Thank you for your time.