Roberts Field

(Redirected from Redmond AAF)

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

Redmond Municipal Airport

Roberts Field

(former Redmond Army Airfield)
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Redmond
ServesCentral Oregon
Elevation AMSL3,080 ft / 939 m
Coordinates44°15′15″N 121°08′59″W / 44.25417°N 121.14972°W / 44.25417; -121.14972
Websitewww.FlyRDM.com
Map
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 7,038 2,145 Asphalt
11/29 7,006 2,135 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 48 15 Concrete
Statistics (2021/2022)
Aircraft operations (year ending 3/24/2022)75,150
Based aircraft 202293
Total passengers 2018890,878
Sources: FAA,[1] airport website[2]

It is the main commercial airport in Central Oregon, with nonstop scheduled passenger airline flights to several hubs in the western U.S. as well as seasonally to Dallas. The airfield serves Redmond and 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.

Avelo Airlines began new nonstop service between Redmond and the Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in the Los Angeles area on May 13, 2021, with Boeing 737-800 mainline jetliners.[3]

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 called it a primary commercial service airport.[4] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 364,921 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2017, up from 306,517 in 2016.[5]

History

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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]

Past airline service

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In 1947 United Airlines began flying Douglas DC-3s Portland–Redmond–Klamath Falls–Sacramento–San Francisco–Monterey–Santa Barbara–Los Angeles.[7] In 1959 United Convair 340s flew Seattle–Portland–Redmond–Klamath Falls–Sacramento–San Francisco.[7]

In 1959 West Coast Airlines replaced United; its DC-3s flew Portland, ORSalem, ORRedmond, ORKlamath Falls, ORLakeview, ORBurns, ORBoise route.[7] West Coast Airlines later merged with Bonanza Air Lines and Pacific Air Lines to form Air West, which was later renamed Hughes Airwest. In 1972 Hughes Airwest Fairchild F-27s flew nonstop to Portland and direct to Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle.[8] By 1975, Hughes Airwest had begun Douglas DC-9-10s and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s to Roberts Field. Hughes Airwest DC-9s flew nonstop to Portland and direct to San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX).[8] In 1980 Hughes Airwest had four DC-9 flights per day from Redmond, two to San Francisco via Redding and two to Seattle via Eugene.[8] In 1986 Hughes Airwest merged into Republic Airlines, which continued DC-9 service at Redmond.[8]

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

Other jets to Redmond included Alaska Airlines Boeing 727-200s for a few months in winter 1989–90 with nonstops to Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle, Pacific Express BAC One-Elevens to Portland, San Francisco and other cities, Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) BAe 146-200s to San Francisco, and Reno Air McDonnell Douglas MD-80s to San Jose, CA.

On August 1, 2006, Horizon Air began twice daily nonstops to Los Angeles with Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s; Horizon reduced service to one flight daily on June 24, 2008[9] and by 2010 this flight had ended.[10][11] In the late 2000s, Allegiant Air flew McDonnell Douglas MD-80s twice a week to both Las Vegas and Phoenix, Arizona's suburban airport Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA). In early 2012 Allegiant Air announced it would fly to Oakland, California, beginning in April.[12] On May 23, 2012, Allegiant Air announced it would end service to the airport on August 12. Allegiant later resumed serving Redmond with Airbus mainline jetliners.[13]

In 2005 Delta Connection flights operated by SkyWest Airlines for Delta Air Lines began nonstop to Salt Lake City with Canadair CRJ-100s, now replaced by the larger CRJ-700.[14] All United Express flights operated by SkyWest Airlines on behalf of United Airlines are being flown with Canadair regional jets to Redmond following the retirement of Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias by SkyWest. Alaska Airlines flights are now largely operated by the Embraer E175, having replaced regular Q400 service.

Horizon announced cuts to Seattle and Portland service in 2009, as it continued to phase out its smaller aircraft in favor of the Q400. The airline's seat capacity from Redmond is expected to remain nearly the same. United Express announced it would operate its regional jet service to Denver year-round, thus giving RDM passenger service to a second hub in addition to the Delta Connection service to Salt Lake City.[15]

United Express announced it would upgrade its CRJ 200 flights to Denver from on the weekends only to daily and would expand service to San Francisco as the EMB-120 Brasilia was replaced with CRJ 200s. This increased the daily seats despite the reduction from three flights per day to two. Flight time was reduced by nearly an hour.[16]

Boardings increased in the first half of 2010.[17] United resumed three Redmond-San Francisco flights a day in November 2010 after several years with only two flights.[18] In 2011, passenger boardings were 3% higher than 2010 (through October), thus being the busiest year since the airport opened[19]

In early 2013 American Eagle announced it would offer nonstop service to Los Angeles for American Airlines with these flights replacing the service 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 was served by SkyWest Airlines Canadair CRJ-200s branded as American Eagle.[20][21][22]

By mid-2014, United announced the end of all flights between Portland and both Redmond and Eugene, due to SkyWest's elimination of the EMB-120 from its fleet; the routes are ostensibly unable to support CRJ service.[23] A year later, a transition of the once-daily Los Angeles flight to irregular seasonal operations was acknowledged by American Airlines with American Eagle service to LAX resuming in 2015.

In summer 2016, daily service was added on American Eagle started service between Redmond 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.[24][25]

In 2017 Delta Air Lines added Delta Connection service to Seattle; in 2018 United Airlines added United Express service to Los Angeles.

In summer 2019 United added seasonal flights to its hub at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. This is the airport's only nonstop service to a destination east of the Mississippi River.

Facility growth/passenger terminal

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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.[26]

 
Redmond, Oregon passenger terminal, upper deck restaurant area

Along with increased parking, the facility has increased its area by about 600%,[27] 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.[28][29][30]

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 may now use covered walkways between aircraft and terminal.[31]

A year after the expansion's completion, a bar and restaurant opened in the secure area. Efforts to add additional concessions are currently underway. A restaurant was in the main terminal until 2009, but this is the first time that food and drink are available in the departure gate area.

Since the airport began displaying public art in the terminal, it has sold nearly $100,000 worth of artworks to travelers.[32]

Infrastructure

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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.[33] In early 2012, the airport began hosting a MEDEVAC helicopter operated by Lifeflight.[34][35] 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.[36]

Facilities

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Roberts Field covers 2,518 acres (1,019 ha) at an elevation of 3,080 feet (940 m). It has two asphalt runways: 5/23 is 7,038 by 150 feet (2,145 by 46 m) and 11/29 is 7,006 by 100 feet (2,135 by 30 m). It has one concrete helipad H1, 48 by 48 feet (15 by 15 m).[1][37]

In the year ending March 24, 2022 the airport had 75,150 aircraft operations, average 206 per day: 72% general aviation, 10% air taxi, 18% airline, and <1% military. 93 aircraft were then based at the airport: 80 single-engine, 7 multi-engine, 2 helicopter, and 4 jet.[1]

Airlines and destinations

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FAA diagram

Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Alaska Airlines Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Portland (OR)[38]
American Airlines Seasonal: Dallas/Fort Worth[39]
American Eagle Phoenix–Sky Harbor
Avelo Airlines Burbank, Las Vegas[40]
Seasonal: Palm Springs,[41] Santa Rosa
Delta Connection Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma
United Airlines Denver, San Francisco
United Express Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Cargo

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AirlinesDestinations
Ameriflight Eugene, Portland/Hillsboro (OR), Portland (OR)
FedEx Feeder Portland (OR)

Statistics

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Top destinations

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Top domestic routes out of RDM
(June 2023 – May 2024)[42]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Seattle/Tacoma, Washington 195,000 Alaska, Delta
2 San Francisco, California 93,000 Alaska, United
3 Denver, Colorado 84,000 United
4 Salt Lake City, Utah 46,000 Delta
5 Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 44,000 American
6 Los Angeles, California 43,000 Alaska, United
7 Burbank, California 22,000 Avelo
8 San Diego, California 21,000 Alaska
9 Las Vegas, Nevada 9,000 Avelo
10 Portland, Oregon 7,000 Alaska

Airline market share

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Largest airlines at RDM
(June 2023 - May 2024)
[42]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 SkyWest Airlines 452,000 39.01%
2 United Airlines 238,000 20.49%
3 Horizon Air 193,000 16.61%
4 Alaska Airlines 183,000 15.83%
5 Avelo Airlines 89,000 7.65%
Other Airlines 5,000 0.42%

References

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  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for RDM PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective September 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "Redmond Municipal Airport - Roberts Field". official site. Archived from the original on July 19, 2005. Retrieved June 23, 2006.
  3. ^ "Homepage". Avelo Airlines. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
  5. ^ "Calendar Year 2017 Final Revenue Enplanements at All Airports" (PDF). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. November 7, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d "Airport History Timeline". City of Redmond. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  7. ^ a b c "Airline Timetable Images". www.timetableimages.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2001. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d "index". www.departedflights.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  9. ^ "Horizon cutting one of two RDM–LAX non-stops". KTVZ.com. [dead link]
  10. ^ "Horizon Air Dropping Its Redmond-LAX Direct Flight". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010.
  11. ^ "Horizon Air Announces Changes to Fall Schedule" (Press release). Horizon Air. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  12. ^ "Carrier To Offer Central Ore. Flights To Bay Area - News Story - KTVZ Bend". May 2, 2012. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  13. ^ "Allegiant Air website". Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  14. ^ sources, KTVZ.COM news (May 31, 2013). "Delta goes first-class in RDM as summer arrives". Ktvz.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  15. ^ "With new air service, a link to East Coast". The Bulletin. October 14, 2009. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  16. ^ "Archived copy". www.ktvz.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ "Airport boardings up in Redmond". The Bulletin. June 15, 2010. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011.
  18. ^ "Central Oregonians Cheer Third RDM-SFO Flight: United Express Daily Non-Stop Begins Nov. 4". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010.
  19. ^ "Redmond Airport boardings up". The Bulletin. November 9, 2011.
  20. ^ "Redmond daily flights to LAX may return". KTVZ.com. March 11, 2013. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013.
  21. ^ "It's official: RDM-LAX flights to begin in June". KTVZ.com. April 9, 2013. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013.
  22. ^ "Red Carpet send-off for inaugural RDM-LAX flight". KTVZ.com. June 13, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013.
  23. ^ KTVZ. "Lost United Express flights not over RDM issues". KTVZ. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  24. ^ sources, From KTVZ.COM news (February 1, 2016). "RDM may land direct Phoenix flights this summer". Ktvz.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  25. ^ sources, From KTVZ.COM news (February 23, 2016). "RDM-PHX nonstop flights: Cheap or pricey? It depends". Ktvz.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  26. ^ "Roberts Field Redmond Municipal Airport, Redmond, Oregon". Feinknopf Photography. Archived from the original on June 2, 2012.
  27. ^ "Bend Oregon's #1 Business Newspaper Online - Cascade Business News". March 15, 2013. Archived from the original on March 15, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  28. ^ "Big Plans for Airport". KOHD.com. December 14, 2007. Archived from the original on December 23, 2007.
  29. ^ "Redmond Airport size to double under plan". The Bulletin. April 6, 2006. Archived from the original on December 7, 2007. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
  30. ^ "Flying high: Redmond Airport's '07 smashes records". KTVZ.com. [dead link]
  31. ^ "First impressions at the airport: quicker and easier - and huge". The Bulletin. October 21, 2009. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  32. ^ "Redmond's Novick Flying Off to Retirement". KTVZ.com. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011.
  33. ^ "Redmond Airport Fire Truck Has Beer-y Past". KTVZ.com. September 7, 2011. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011.
  34. ^ http://www.lifeflight.org/images/stories/LFN_Redmond_base_re [permanent dead link]
  35. ^ "Life Flight Network - There. When You Need Us. ®". Life Flight Network. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  36. ^ sources, From KTVZ.COM news (May 20, 2016). "RDM runway project on track, airport reopens Monday". Ktvz.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  37. ^ "RDM airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  38. ^ "Alaska Airlines remains committed to smaller communities: Regional flying coming to several cities this fall". Alaska Air. July 20, 2023. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  39. ^ "American Airlines 2Q24 Dallas/Ft. Worth Domestic Routes Addition". Aeroroutes. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  40. ^ "Avelo Airlines Doubles Down on Vegas with New Base". PRNewsWire. June 22, 2023. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  41. ^ "Avelo airline coming to PSP with service to Santa Rosa, Eugene and Redmond". Desert Sun. August 4, 2022. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  42. ^ a b "Top 10 Destination Airports". RITA. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
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