Century West has completed all major planning work for the airport dating back to the late-1970s, including four major master plan updates. Bend Municipal Airport has grown rapidly in recent years and has attracted a wide range of aviation related business and a growing locally based business jet and turboprop fleet. It is currently the busiest general aviation airport in Central Oregon and among Oregon’s most active airports used by business aviation.

Our master plan update from 2002 analyzed runway length requirements and upgrades needed to accommodate FAA airport design and airspace planning standards consistent with increased business jet traffic. Based on Century West’s planning analyses, the airport completed construction of a new 5,200-foot runway and dual parallel taxiways, replacing the original runway.

The primary issues addressed in the 2012 master plan update included evaluation of runway extension needs, the feasibility of upgrading the runway-taxiway system to accommodate Aircraft Approach C and D aircraft, redevelopment of the terminal area to better accommodate business aircraft activity, accommodating growing levels of helicopter flight training, and defining the future facility configuration for the airport’s east landside area. The master plan included a helicopter landing area siting study and an evaluation of potential industrial development area on and adjacent to the airport. Century West also worked closely with City of Bend and Deschutes County planners and developed new airport zoning ordinance language to replace existing, obsolete zoning.

We recently completed a NEPA Environmental Assessment for a new helicopter landing area on the airport. The project involved a variety of land use, noise, and flight procedure elements, all of which bring a high level of public participation and scrutiny.