Navigating Telluride's Box Canyon Runway, Virtually

Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane offer opportunities to pregame a risky airport landing and departure.

Peter James

Friday, September 22, 2023 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

The MSFS2020 Citation Longitude after parking at the GA ramp. [Image courtesy of Peter James]

Key Takeaways:

Telluride Regional Airport (KTEX) is a highly challenging destination for pilots due to its high altitude, unique terrain like a box canyon and sloping runway, and strict operational limitations.
Both *X-Plane 12* and *Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020* accurately replicate KTEX's demanding environment, including its terrain, runway characteristics, and the critical effects of density altitude on aircraft performance.
The article highlights the immersive realism of these simulators, allowing pilots to experience the excitement and practice operations with various aircraft, from business jets to larger airliners, in this difficult setting.
KTEX serves as an excellent virtual proving ground for pilots to master high-altitude flying, understand density altitude impacts, and prepare for potential emergencies in a challenging mountainous environment.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Ever since I can recall, way back as a teenager staring at sectional charts, I dreamed of the day I could actually see those places in person. Telluride, Colorado, was always a mysterious, mythical place that I wasn’t sure I would actually visit in real life. That was until this month when I had a flying assignment to Telluride Regional Airport (KTEX). Weeks of mental planning, and some sim time in and out of this incredible place paid off.

The restrictions to this airport are many—and for obviously good reasons. No night ops, no tailwind arrivals over 10 knots, which is standard for most jets. You land on Runway 9 and depart Runway 27. The box canyon at the end of 9 makes the departure path pretty scary at best. And landing on 27 would be equally risky.