Air traffic, facilities growing
Commercial and general aviation are thriving in Central Oregon. The region’s growth is due in no small measure to the quality of transportation services available. Commercial airline service is essential for business and pleasure travelers. Horizon Air, United Express, Delta Connection and Allegiant Air serve Central Oregon via Roberts Field, the Redmond municipal airport. United Express and Delta Connection are operated by SkyWest Airlines.Direct flights connect Redmond with Portland, Seattle, Eugene, Salt Lake City, Denver, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It has become an article of faith that passenger traffic figures set new records each month. Outbound flights carried 215,163 passengers away from Roberts Field in 2006. The total through September 2007 was over 24,000 ahead of the same period in 2006. While there is some seasonal variation in the number, 44 passenger flights arrive and depart Roberts Field daily as this is written.
Why is Central Oregon’s commercial airport in Redmond instead of Bend? Roberts Field, 15 miles north of Bend, originated as a World War II training base and thus has two runways over 7,000 ft long. The passenger terminal will undergo a $36 million expansion over the next two years, adding space for additional gates, boarding areas, baggage handling and ticket counters. The parking lot has recently been doubled in size.
Roberts Field also serves air cargo and general aviation traffic, including two fixed base operators and fixed-wing and helicopter charter services. The airfield is home to the U.S. Forest Service Air Center and its fleet of smoke jumper and tanker aircraft, and to a pioneer manufacturer of high-performance kit planes. A major general aviation terminal and flight school project is planned by a private concern. Ground transportation to the airport is available by taxi, shuttle, town car and limo services, and by resort and hotel shuttles. Four major car rental agencies have counters in the terminal.
Bend’s municipal airport, five miles northeast of the city, is a comprehensive general aviation facility that is home to two aircraft manufacturers and several aircraft-related businesses. The airport supports one fixed base operator and several charter services, one of which includes a business jet in its fleet. A new $10 million, 5,500-ft runway has recently been completed, replacing an older, parallel strip. The relocated runway supports larger and heavier aircraft, facilitating an expected increase in private jet traffic. New hangar and terminal facilities are in the offing.
Prineville and Madras municipal airports also have been undergoing improvements to add hangar space and improve general aircraft terminal facilities. Both have runways exceeding 5,000 ft. The airport at Sunriver Resort serves both transient and locally-based aircraft.
All airport operators in Central Oregon are gearing up for increased air traffic driven by growing business and executive travel, by the growth of destination resorts, and by special events ranging from major golf tournaments to presidential visits. The number of jet aircraft using local airports is growing.
Bend, Redmond, Sunriver, Prineville, Madras and Sisters airports are home base to 564 aircraft, including 56 multi-engine planes, 10 jets and 15 helicopters. They record an average of about 381 flights per day.
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