I used the term localized because the turbulence was only reported at one location so merely avoided it and had a smooth approach. Wind swirles around certain terrain but is local in nature and since flying through a zone of know severe turbulence is illegal chose not to do so and the only option to still land at Aspen was circle VFR to 33. You would have to have gone to your alternate because you couldn't have landed without flying through an area of severe turbulence. Then how do you know when it is gone?
There were not so many op specs back then so the pilots were given a lot of latitude. Now with magenta lines and rules I know some operators can't do that.
Amazingly 23,000 hrs later, no bent metal, no violations and no injured passengers or close calls. We flew our way, you fly any way you want.