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.
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
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]
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 AirlinesCanadair 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 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
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
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
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]
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