Roberts Field

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Roberts Field
Redmond Municipal Airport
(former Redmond Army Airfield)
USGS 2006 orthophoto
IATA: RDM – ICAO: KRDM – FAA LID: RDM
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Redmond
Serves Redmond, Oregon
Elevation AMSL 3,080 ft / 939 m
Coordinates 44°15′15″N 121°08′59″W / 44.25417°N 121.14972°W / 44.25417; -121.14972Coordinates: 44°15′15″N 121°08′59″W / 44.25417°N 121.14972°W / 44.25417; -121.14972
Website www.FlyRDM.com
Map
RDM
Location of airport in Oregon
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4/22 7,038 2,145 Asphalt
10/28 7,006 2,135 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 48 15 Concrete
Statistics (2011)
Aircraft operations 48,693
Based aircraft 75
Sources: FAA,[1] airport website[2]

Roberts Field (IATA: RDM, ICAO: KRDM, FAA LID: RDM) is a city owned, public airport a mile southeast of downtown Redmond, in Deschutes County, Oregon.[1]

Also known as Redmond Municipal Airport,[2] it is the main commercial airport in Central Oregon, with flights on regional airlines to several hubs. It is home of the Lancair factory and a base for aerial firefighting, and hosts private airtanker companies as well as the United States Forest Service Redmond Air Center, which supports regional operations; it provides training and housing for smokejumper teams, along with fuel, water and retardant for airtanker units, at its ramps along the north side of the field.

It is in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which called it a primary commercial service airport.[3] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 235,192 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[4] 221,463 in 2009 and 226,400 in 2010.[5]

History

Built in the 1920s, passenger flights arrived at the airport in 1940.[6] During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a bomber base. After the war the federal government sold the airport to the city for $1.[6]

Passenger service

Terminal and ramp, with central Cascade Range in the distance, Dec 2010
Roberts Field manager Carrie Novick and USFS Redmond Air Center manager Dan Torrence, members of their staff, and Jamin and Jeshua Marshall meet Sen. Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential primary campaign

Historical service

A few airlines have scheduled flights to Redmond, including Alaska Airlines Boeing 727-200s to Los Angeles and Seattle, Hughes Airwest (formerly Air West) Douglas DC-9s to Portland and San Francisco and to smaller cities, Pacific Express BAC One-Elevens to Portland and San Francisco and other cities, and Pacific Southwest Airlines BAe 146-200s to San Francisco. United was the only airline at Redmond until West Coast replaced them in 1959.

On August 1, 2006 Horizon Air began twice daily non-stops to Los Angeles on 76-seat Bombardier Dash 8 (Q400)s. This was reduced to once daily on June 24, 2008, due to rising fuel prices.[7] By 2010 this flight to LAX was eliminated altogether.[8][9] In the late 2000s, Allegiant Air flew McDonnell Douglas MD-80s to Las Vegas twice a week as well as twice-weekly service to Phoenix, Arizona's suburban airport Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, also with MD-80s. In early 2012 Allegiant Air indicated it would fly to Oakland, California beginning in April.[10] On May 23, 2012 Allegiant Air announced it would end all service to the airport on August 12.

Current service

In 2005 Delta Air Lines began SkyWest Airlines flights to Salt Lake City on Bombardier CRJs. Some flights on United Express and all Horizon Air flights are on turboprops, currently the EMB-120 and the Q400.

Horizon announced cuts to Seattle and Portland service in 2009, as it continues to phase out its smaller airliners in favor of fewer, larger flights on Q400's. The airline's seat capacity from Redmond is expected to remain nearly the same. However, United Airlines announced it would make its regional jet service to Denver year-round, giving Roberts Field its second full-schedule passenger service to an easterly hub, after Salt Lake City.[11]

United Express upgraded its CRJ 200 regional jet flights to Denver from weekend only to daily service and expanded operations to San Francisco from the EMB-120 to the larger jet CRJ 200. This will increase daily seats despite the reduction from three flights per day to two. Flight time will be reduced by nearly an hour.[12]

Passenger boardings increased in the first half of 2010.[13] United resumed three Redmond-San Francisco jets a day in November 2010 after several years where they had two.[14] 2011 passenger boardings were 3% higher than 2010 (through October).[15]

In early 2013 American Airlines announced it was restarting the flight to Los Angeles formerly operated by Alaska Airlines. In this case a method known as a "travel bank" was used, where local individuals, businesses, and civic entities pre-purchased travel vouchers from the airline, acting as a commitment to the required level of demand on the route, which began in June, and is served by American Eagle (Skywest) regional jets.[16][17][18]

Airport growth

Redmond, Oregon passenger terminal, upper deck restaurant area

Passenger terminal

A passenger terminal was built in 1950 and replaced in 1981 by a 6,000-square-foot (560 m2) terminal.[6] In 1992-93 the terminal was expanded to 23,000 square feet (2,100 m2).[6]

By late 2009 Roberts Field completed another large terminal expansion, designed by HNTB.[19]

Along with increased parking, the facility has increased its area by about 600%,[20] allowing more room for security and traveler services, as well as concessions and gate operations. While the new bi-level structure is capable of supporting jet bridges, the low frequency of full-size jets operating from the terminal, and no indication of tenant airline desire, means that these bridges are not currently included, though walking distance to and from planes has been reduced.[21][22][23]

In October 2009 most sections of the expanded passenger terminal opened for public use; the improvements include more numerous check-in counters and bathrooms, along with a two story, windowed departure lounge. Travelers also may now use covered walkways between aircraft and terminal.[24]

A year following the expansion's completion, a bar and restaurant was opened in the secure area after a contentious permitting process; efforts to add pizza and coffee outlets to the non-secure area are now underway. While there was a restaurant in the check-in hall until 2009, this is the first time in Roberts Field's history that food and drink are available in the departure gate area. If initial OLCC approval is continued, it will also become the second location in Oregon allowed to serve alcohol beginning at 5 am, following Portland's airport.[20]

USFS and aerial firefighting ramps at Roberts Field

Since the airport began displaying public art in the terminal, it has sold nearly $100,000 worth of artworks to travelers.[25]

Infrastructure

The airport upgraded its mass-casualty vehicle in 2011 due to larger commercial jets using Roberts Field; while the old unit could handle 37 patients, the new truck is prepared for an incident involving over 100.[26] In early 2012, the airport began hosting a MEDEVAC helicopter operated by Lifeflight.[27][28]

Facilities and aircraft

Roberts Field covers 2,518 acres (1,019 ha) at an elevation of 3,080 feet (939 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 4/22 is 7,038 by 150 feet (2,145 x 46 m) and 10/28 is 7,006 by 100 feet (2,135 x 30 m). It has one concrete helipad designated H1, 48 by 48 feet (15 x 15 m).[1]

In 2011 the airport had 48,693 aircraft operations, average 133 per day: 71% general aviation, 19% air taxi, 10% scheduled commercial, and 1% military. 75 aircraft were then based at this airport: 81% single-engine, 7% multi-engine, 7% helicopter, and 5% jet.[1]

Airlines and destinations

FAA airport map for KRDM

Scheduled passenger flights:

Airlines Destinations
Alaska Airlines operated by Horizon Air Portland (OR), Seattle/Tacoma
American Eagle operated by SkyWest Airlines Los Angeles
Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines Salt Lake City
United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines Denver, Portland (OR), San Francisco

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 FAA Airport Master Record for RDM (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Redmond Municipal Airport - Roberts Field". official site. 
  3. ↑ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 2.03 MB). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. 
  4. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). CY 2008 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009. 
  5. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). CY 2010 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2011. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Airport History Timeline". City of Redmond. Retrieved October 31, 2008. 
  7. ↑ "Horizon cutting one of two RDM-LAX non-stops". KTVZ.com. 
  8. ↑ "Horizon Air Dropping Its Redmond-LAX Direct Flight". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012. 
  9. ↑ "Horizon Air Announces Changes to Fall Schedule" (Press release). Horizon Air. June 16, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010. 
  10. ↑ http://www.ktvz.com/news/30269213/detail.html
  11. ↑ "With new air service, a link to East Coast". The Bulletin. October 14, 2009. 
  12. ↑ http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=10122462
  13. ↑ "Airport boardings up in Redmond". The Bulletin. June 15, 2010. 
  14. ↑ "Central Oregonians Cheer Third RDM-SFO Flight: United Express Daily Non-Stop Begins Nov. 4". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012. 
  15. ↑ "Redmond Airport boardings up". The Bulletin. November 9, 2011. 
  16. ↑ "Redmond daily flights to LAX may return". KTVZ.com. March 11, 2013. 
  17. ↑ "It's official: RDM-LAX flights to begin in June". KTVZ.com. April 9, 2013. 
  18. ↑ "Red Carpet send-off for inaugural RDM-LAX flight". KTVZ.com. June 13, 2013. 
  19. ↑ "Roberts Field Redmond Municipal Airport, Redmond, Oregon". Feinknopf Photography. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 http://www.cascadebusnews.com/index.php?m=2&s=3&id=1100&search_m=7&search_s=40
  21. ↑ "Big Plans for Airport". KOHD.com. December 14, 2007. 
  22. ↑ "Redmond Airport size to double under plan". The Bulletin. April 6, 2006. 
  23. ↑ "Flying high: Redmond Airport's '07 smashes records". KTVZ.com. 
  24. ↑ "First impressions at the airport: quicker and easier - and huge". The Bulletin. October 21, 2009. 
  25. ↑ "Redmond's Novick Flying Off to Retirement". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012. 
  26. ↑ "Redmond Airport Fire Truck Has Beer-y Past". KTVZ.com. September 7, 2011. 
  27. ↑ http://www.lifeflight.org/images/stories/LFN_Redmond_base_release_PDF.pdf
  28. ↑ http://www.lifeflight.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=129

External links


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