Bend Municipal Airport wrapping up big improvements

The Bend Municipal Airport has seen some big upgrades in recent months.

Believe it or not, according to the airport manager, Bend’s airport is the third-busiest in the state.

Because of that, the city of Bend — along with the Federal Aviation Administration and Connect Oregon — has recently invested nearly $10 million in the airport.

With an increase in traffic both from planes and helicopters, city officials decided it was time to put in a heliport on the east side of the airport.

Airport Manager Gary Judd said workers also rebuilt the ramp leading to the runway, which was beginning to crack.

The airport sees 140,000 takeoffs and landings each year, due largely to the flight school based out of the airport.

The flight school, Leading Edge Aviation, has become increasingly important, according to Judd, who said the airlines are struggling to hire enough pilots.

Beyond that, the economic benefits for Bend are a big help to the community as the airport continues to grow.

“I think it will just continue to grow, and it adds a very positive aspect to the community. It adds something that no other element can,” Judd said. “That ability, on a private level, to move very quickly, I think the Bay Area is four hours or less if you have your own aircraft. That’s pretty impressive and pretty compelling for people that want to move here but don’t want to be out of touch with the big metropolitan areas.”

Judd said the airport allows for large corporations to set up shop in Bend and easily fly in and out of the area helping the local economy.

The airport itself is providing jobs as well as they expand and build, maintain aircraft and fuel them.

Judd sees the airport being able to play a big role in the future due to the new improvements that have been made.

According ot Judd, the hope is that the final phases of the project, which is chip-sealing parts of the old ramp, will be completed this month.