Roberts Field

Roberts Field
Redmond Municipal Airport
(former Redmond Army Airfield)

Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Redmond
Serves Central 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
RDM

Location 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 (2015/2016)
Aircraft operations 45,711
Based aircraft 67
Total Passengers 2016 602,176
Sources: FAA,[1] airport website[2]

Roberts Field (IATA: RDM, ICAO: KRDM, FAA LID: RDM) (Redmond Municipal Airport) is a domestic airport in Deschutes County, Oregon. It is owned and operated by the city of Redmond, Oregon.[1]

It is the main commercial airport in Central Oregon, with nonstop regional airline flights to several hubs in the western U.S. The airfield serves Redmond as well as nearby Bend, Oregon. It is the home of the Lancair factory and a base for aerial firefighting aircraft operated by private airtanker companies. The United States Forest Service (USFS) Redmond Air Center is on the airport and supports regional firefighting operations with this federal facility providing training and housing for smokejumper teams along with fuel, water and fire retardant for airtanker aircraft at its ramps along the north side of the field.

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 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

United Airlines was the only airline at Redmond in the late 1940s; in 1947, United Douglas DC-3s flew Portland, OR - Redmond, OR - Klamath Falls, OR - Sacramento - San Francisco - Monterey, CA - Santa Barbara, CA - Los Angeles.[7] By 1959 United was operating Convair 340s Seattle - Portland - Redmond - Klamath Falls - Sacramento - San Francisco and back.[8]

United would end mainline service to Redmond[9] and by 1960 West Coast Airlines Douglas DC-3s were flying Portland, OR - Salem, OR - Redmond, OR - Klamath Falls, OR - Lakeview, OR - Burns, OR - Boise.[10] West Coast Airlines later merged with Bonanza Air Lines and Pacific Air Lines to form Air West which became Hughes Airwest. In 1972 Hughes Airwest Fairchild F-27s flew nonstop to Portland and direct to Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle.[11] By 1975 Hughes Airwest had introduced McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jets to Redmond, flying nonstop to Portland and direct to San Francisco and Los Angeles.[12] In 1980 Hughes Airwest had four DC-9 flights a day from Redmond: twice to San Francisco via Redding and to Seattle twice via Eugene.[13] Hughes Airwest merged into Republic Airlines which continued to operate DC-9s to Redmond. In 1981 Republic DC-9-30s flew nonstop to Portland, Eugene and Klamath Falls, continuing to San Francisco or Seattle.[14]

Terminal and ramp, with central Cascade Range in the distance, Dec 2010

Other airlines that scheduled jets to Redmond included Alaska Airlines Boeing 727-200s to Los Angeles and Seattle, Pacific Express BAC One-Elevens to Portland, San Francisco and other cities, Pacific Southwest Airlines BAe 146-200s to San Francisco and Reno Air McDonnell Douglas MD-80s to San Jose.

On August 1, 2006 Horizon Air began twice daily nonstops to Los Angeles with 76-seat Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s. This was reduced to one daily flight on June 24, 2008, due to rising fuel prices.[15] By 2010 this flight to LAX was eliminated altogether.[16][17] In the late 2000s (decade), Allegiant Air flew McDonnell Douglas MD-80s to Las Vegas twice a week and twice-weekly to Phoenix, Arizona's suburban airport Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA), also with MD-80s. In early 2012 Allegiant Air indicated it would fly to Oakland, California beginning in April.[18] However, on May 23, 2012 Allegiant Air announced it would end all service to the airport on August 12.

Current service

In 2005 Delta Connection flights on SkyWest Airlines began to Salt Lake City on Canadair CRJ-100s, now replaced by the CRJ-700.[19] All United Express flights on SkyWest Airlines are being flown with Canadair regional jets following the retirement of Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias by SkyWest. All Alaska Airlines flights operated by Horizon Air are operated with the Bombardier Q400, the largest and fastest of the Dash 8 family.

Roberts Field manager Carrie Novick and USFS Redmond Air Center manager Dan Torrence, members of their staff, and Jamin and Jeshua Marshall (of Larry and His Flask) meet Sen. Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential primary campaign

Horizon announced cuts to Seattle and Portland service in 2009, as it continued to phase out its smaller aircraft in favor of Q400's. The airline's seat capacity from Redmond is expected to remain nearly the same. United Express announced it would make its regional jet service to Denver year-round, thus giving Roberts Field passenger service to a second hub in the intermountain west in addition to the Delta Connection service to Salt Lake City.[20]

United Express then announced it would upgrade its CRJ 200 flights to Denver from weekend only to daily and also would expand service to San Francisco as the EMB-120 was replaced with CRJ 200 regional jets. This will increase daily seats despite the reduction from three flights per day to two. Flight time will be reduced by nearly an hour.[21]

Passenger boardings increased in the first half of 2010.[22] United resumed three Redmond-San Francisco jets a day in November 2010 after several years where they had two.[23] 2011 passenger boardings were 3% higher than 2010 (through October).[24]

In early 2013 American Eagle announced it would offer nonstop service to Los Angeles as a feeder service for American Airlines with these flights replacing the service formerly operated by Alaska Airlines regional connector Horizon Air. 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 Canadair CRJ-200 regional jets operated by SkyWest Airlines branded as American Eagle service.[25][26][27]

By mid-2014 United announced the end of all flights between Portland and both Redmond and Eugene, due to regional affiliate SkyWest's elimination of the EMB-120 from its fleet; the routes are ostensibly unable to support CRJ service.[28] One year later, a transition of the once-daily Los Angeles flight to irregular seasonal operations was acknowledged by American Airlines; the route is to stop in September, restart for the December holidays, and then continue its hiatus until summer 2016.[29]

In summer 2016 daily service was added on American Eagle between Roberts Field and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, also using regional contractor SkyWest's CRJ-700; the flights began sooner than expected due to travel-bank fundraising among the Central Oregon community.[30][31]

Facility growth

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.[32]

Redmond, Oregon passenger terminal, upper deck restaurant area

Along with increased parking, the facility has increased its area by about 600%,[33] 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.[34][35][36]

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.[37]

A year after 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.[33]

Since the airport began displaying public art in the terminal, it has sold nearly $100,000 worth of artworks to travelers.[38]

Infrastructure

USFS and aerial firefighting ramps at Roberts Field

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.[39] In early 2012, the airport began hosting a MEDEVAC helicopter operated by Lifeflight.[40][41] In May 2016 the airport runways were closed for nearly three weeks, allowing their intersection to be reconstructed as part of a project to re-pave them both.[42]

Facilities

Roberts Field covers 2,518 acres (1,019 ha) at an elevation of 3,080 feet (939 m). It has two asphalt runways: 5/23 is 7,038 by 150 feet (2,145 x 46 m) and 11/29 is 7,006 by 100 feet (2,135 x 30 m). It has one concrete helipad 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% airline, 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 diagram

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Alaska Airlines
operated by Horizon Air 		Portland (OR), Seattle/Tacoma
American Eagle Phoenix
Seasonal: Los Angeles
Delta Connection Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma[43]
United Express Denver, San Francisco

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Airpac Airlines Portland (OR)
Ameriflight Eugene, Portland (OR)
FedEx Feeder North Bend/Coos Bay, Portland (OR)

Statistics

Top destinations

Top domestic routes out of RDM
(Apr 2016 - Mar 2017)[44]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Seattle, WA 91,000 Alaska
2 Portland, OR 82,000 Alaska
3 San Francisco, CA 51,000 United
4 Salt Lake City, UT 30,000 Delta
5 Denver, CO 23,000 United
6 Los Angeles, CA 19,000 American
7 Phoenix, AZ 14,000 American

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Master Record for RDM (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Redmond Municipal Airport - Roberts Field". official site.
  3. ↑ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on 2012-09-27.
  4. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Airport History Timeline". City of Redmond. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  7. ↑ http://www.timetableimages.com, Sept. 28, 1947 United timetable
  8. ↑ http://www.timetableimages.com, April 1, 1959 United timetable
  9. ↑ http://www.timetableimages.com, June 1, 1961 United Air Lines timetable
  10. ↑ http://www.timetableimages.com, July 1, 1962 West Coast Airlines timetable
  11. ↑ http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1972 Hughes Airwest timetable
  12. ↑ http://www.departedflights.com, Oct. 26, 1975 Hughes Airwest timetable
  13. ↑ http://www.departedflights.com, Sept. 1, 1980 Hughes Airwest timetable
  14. ↑ http://www.departedflights.com, April 1, 1981 Republic Airlines timetable & Oct. 25, 1981 Republic Airlines map
  15. ↑ "Horizon cutting one of two RDM-LAX non-stops". KTVZ.com.
  16. ↑ "Horizon Air Dropping Its Redmond-LAX Direct Flight". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Horizon Air Announces Changes to Fall Schedule" (Press release). Horizon Air. June 16, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  18. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120502092124/http://www.ktvz.com/news/30269213/detail.html. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ http://www.ktvz.com/news/delta-goes-firstclass-in-rdm-as-summer-arrives/20375624
  20. ↑ "With new air service, a link to East Coast". The Bulletin. October 14, 2009.
  21. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20170224133833/http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=10122462. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. ↑ "Airport boardings up in Redmond". The Bulletin. June 15, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Central Oregonians Cheer Third RDM-SFO Flight: United Express Daily Non-Stop Begins Nov. 4". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Redmond Airport boardings up". The Bulletin. November 9, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Redmond daily flights to LAX may return". KTVZ.com. March 11, 2013.
  26. ↑ "It's official: RDM-LAX flights to begin in June". KTVZ.com. April 9, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Red Carpet send-off for inaugural RDM-LAX flight". KTVZ.com. June 13, 2013.
  28. ↑ KTVZ. "Lost United Express flights not over RDM issues". KTVZ.
  29. ↑ KTVZ. "American Airlines: RDM-LAX flights becoming seasonal". KTVZ.
  30. ↑ http://www.ktvz.com/news/rdm-could-land-direct-phoenix-flights-this-summer/37745724
  31. ↑ http://www.ktvz.com/news/redmond-airport-lands-aa-nonstop-phoenix-flights/38083012
  32. ↑ "Roberts Field Redmond Municipal Airport, Redmond, Oregon". Feinknopf Photography.
  33. 1 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20130315123350/http://www.cascadebusnews.com/index.php?m=2&s=3&id=1100&search_m=7&search_s=40. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. ↑ "Big Plans for Airport". KOHD.com. December 14, 2007.
  35. ↑ "Redmond Airport size to double under plan". The Bulletin. April 6, 2006.
  36. ↑ "Flying high: Redmond Airport's '07 smashes records". KTVZ.com.
  37. ↑ "First impressions at the airport: quicker and easier - and huge". The Bulletin. October 21, 2009.
  38. ↑ "Redmond's Novick Flying Off to Retirement". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012.
  39. ↑ "Redmond Airport Fire Truck Has Beer-y Past". KTVZ.com. September 7, 2011.
  40. ↑ http://www.lifeflight.org/images/stories/LFN_Redmond_base_re Ilease_PDF.pdf
  41. ↑ http://www.lifeflight.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=129
  42. ↑ http://www.ktvz.com/news/rdm-runway-project-on-track-airport-reopens-monday/39636942
  43. ↑ http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/270880/delta-further-expands-domestic-routes-from-seattle-in-s17/?highlight=redmond
  44. ↑ RITA | BTS | Transtats


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