Roberts Field
Encyclopedia
Roberts Field , also known as Redmond Municipal Airport, is a public airport
in the city of Redmond, Oregon
, United States. Consisting of two runways, the airport is the primary commercial airport serving Central Oregon
, offering commercial flights on regional airline
s and a low-cost carrier
to several hubs
in the western US. It is also home of the Lancair
factory. It is a base for aerial firefighting
in the Pacific Northwest, 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 assigned airtanker units, at its ramps along the north side of the field.
the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces
as a bomber base. After the war the federal government sold the airport back to the city for $1.
In 2005, Delta Air Lines
began the airport's first jet service with flights to Salt Lake City
operated by SkyWest Airlines
flying Bombardier Regional Jets. Some flights on United Express
and all Horizon Air
flights are operated by turboprop
s, currently the EMB-120 and the Q400 exclusively. Allegiant Air
, Roberts Field's newest commercial carrier, operates service to Las Vegas
two times a week using McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series mainliners, and has begun twice-weekly service to Phoenix, Arizona
's suburban airport Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport
.
On August 1, 2006, Horizon Air began twice daily non-stop service from Redmond to Los Angeles
on 76-seat Bombardier Dash 8 (Q400) turboprop aircraft connecting Central Oregon with Southern California
. The frequency of this service was reduced to once daily on June 24, 2008, due to rising fuel prices. Horizon also announced cuts to Seattle
and Portland
service in June, as it continues to phase out its smaller airliners in favor of fewer, larger flights on Q400's. The airline's capacity out Redmond is therefore expected to remain nearly the same, even considering the frequency reductions.
United Express
has upgraded its CRJ200 flights to Denver
from weekend to daily service. They will also expand operations to San Francisco from the EMB-120 to the larger and faster CRJ 200. This will provide daily additional capacity of ten seats even considering the reduction from three flights per day to two. Flight time will also be reduced by nearly one hour.
While passenger boardings increased in the first half of 2010, Horizon Air announced it would cut direct Redmond-Los Angeles service beginning in late August. Also in 2010, United increased its schedule back to three Redmond-San Francisco jet flights per day beginning in November, following several years where there were only two. 2011 passenger boardings were 3% higher than 2010 (though October).
expansion project directed at commercial airline passengers.
Along with increased parking, the facility has increased its area by about 600%, 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.
In October 2009 most sections of the expanded passenger terminal first 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. That same month, 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.
A year following the expansion's completion, a bar and restaurant was eventually 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.
Since the airport began displaying public art in the terminal, it has sold nearly $100,000 worth of artworks to travelers.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in the city of Redmond, Oregon
Redmond, Oregon
Redmond is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated on July 6, 1910, the city is located on the eastern side of Oregon's Cascade Range, in the High Desert, and is considered the geographical heart of Central Oregon...
, United States. Consisting of two runways, the airport is the primary commercial airport serving Central Oregon
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
, offering commercial flights on regional airline
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
s and a low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
to several hubs
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
in the western US. It is also home of the Lancair
Lancair
Lancair International, Inc. is a U.S. manufacturer of general aviation aircraft kits. They are well known for their series of high-performance single-engine aircraft that offer cruise speeds that surpass many twin-engine turboprop designs...
factory. It is a base for aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing...
in the Pacific Northwest, and hosts private airtanker companies as well as the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
Redmond Air Center, which supports regional operations; it provides training and housing for smokejumper
Smokejumper
A smokejumper is a wildland firefighter who parachutes into a remote area to combat wildfires.Smokejumpers are most often deployed to fires that are extremely remote. The risks associated with this method of personnel deployment are mitigated by an extremely well developed training program that has...
teams, along with fuel, water and retardant for assigned airtanker units, at its ramps along the north side of the field.
History
Built in the 1920s, passenger service arrived at the airport in 1940. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
as a bomber base. After the war the federal government sold the airport back to the city for $1.
Passenger service
A passenger terminal was first built in 1950, which was replaced in 1981 by a new 6000 square feet (557.4 m²) terminal. From 1992 to 1993 an expansion increased the size of the passenger terminal to 23000 square feet (2,136.8 m²).Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
began the airport's first jet service with flights to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
operated by SkyWest Airlines
Skywest Airlines
Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
flying Bombardier Regional Jets. Some flights on United Express
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
and all Horizon Air
Horizon Air
Horizon Air Industries, Inc. is a regional low-cost airline based in SeaTac, Washington, United States. It is the eighth largest regional airline in the USA, serving 52 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico....
flights are operated by turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
s, currently the EMB-120 and the Q400 exclusively. Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
, Roberts Field's newest commercial carrier, operates service to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
two times a week using McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series mainliners, and has begun twice-weekly service to Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
's suburban airport Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport , formerly Williams Gateway Airport and Williams Air Force Base , is a commercial airport located in the southeastern area of the city of Mesa, Arizona, and southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the...
.
On August 1, 2006, Horizon Air began twice daily non-stop service from Redmond to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on 76-seat Bombardier Dash 8 (Q400) turboprop aircraft connecting Central Oregon with Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The frequency of this service was reduced to once daily on June 24, 2008, due to rising fuel prices. Horizon also announced cuts to Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
and Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
service in June, as it continues to phase out its smaller airliners in favor of fewer, larger flights on Q400's. The airline's capacity out Redmond is therefore expected to remain nearly the same, even considering the frequency reductions.
United Express
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
has upgraded its CRJ200 flights to Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
from weekend to daily service. They will also expand operations to San Francisco from the EMB-120 to the larger and faster CRJ 200. This will provide daily additional capacity of ten seats even considering the reduction from three flights per day to two. Flight time will also be reduced by nearly one hour.
While passenger boardings increased in the first half of 2010, Horizon Air announced it would cut direct Redmond-Los Angeles service beginning in late August. Also in 2010, United increased its schedule back to three Redmond-San Francisco jet flights per day beginning in November, following several years where there were only two. 2011 passenger boardings were 3% higher than 2010 (though October).
Airport growth
Passenger terminal
Roberts Field has completed a large terminalAirport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
expansion project directed at commercial airline passengers.
Along with increased parking, the facility has increased its area by about 600%, 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.
In October 2009 most sections of the expanded passenger terminal first 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. That same month, 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.
A year following the expansion's completion, a bar and restaurant was eventually 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
Oregon Liquor Control Commission
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is a government agency of the U.S. state of Oregon. The OLCC was created by an act of the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1933, days after the repeal of prohibition, as a means of providing control over the distribution, sales and consumption of alcoholic...
approval is continued, it will also become the second location in Oregon allowed to serve alcohol beginning at 5 am, following Portland's airport.
Since the airport began displaying public art in the terminal, it has sold nearly $100,000 worth of artworks to travelers.
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.Airlines and destinations
External links
- Roberts Field (official site)